Positive drug test for British horse at major international
A leading British showjumper has been sanctioned by the FEI after her horse tested positive for a prohibited substance at a major show.
Laura Renwick’s ride Heliodor Hybris tested positive for betamethasone, a corticosteroid listed as a controlled medication by the FEI, at CSI5* Villach, Treffen, in Austria (16-19 June).
The combination’s results at the show included a second place in the accumulator on 18 June.
Mrs Renwick, who is currently ranked as the fourth-highest British showjumper in the world, accepted the FEI’s administrative sanction on 21 September.
She declined to comment on the case when contacted by H&H.
An FEI spokesman told H&H that the information, which is published on its administrative sanction table, is public for three months following receipt of the person responsible’s acceptance.
Under rule 8.3.3 of the FEI’s equine controlled medication rules, the combination was disqualified from the event, all prize money forfeited and a fine of CHF 1,500 (£1,230.78) plus costs were ordered to be paid.
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
Clean sport
The FEI’s “equine prohibited substances list” (ESPL), published on the organisation’s website, is split into two categories — banned substances and controlled medications.
Banned substances are deemed by the FEI to have “no legitimate use in the competition horse and/or have a high potential for abuse”. They are not permitted for use in the competition horse at any time.
However, controlled medications — including betamethasone — are commonly used in equine medicine and are deemed by the FEI to have therapeutic value to horses. Under FEI rules, controlled medications must not be present in horses on competition days.
Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now
Lucy is an experienced news journalist, reporter and presenter. Since joining the Horse & Hound team in 2015, Lucy has reported from major global sporting events including the Tokyo Paralympic Games and multiple European Championships, as well as Badminton, Burghley and London, to name a few. She has covered current affairs and sports news across the full spectrum of equestrian disciplines and racing, as well as human and equine welfare, industry news and court cases.