Horse involved in Burghley doping scandal back competing
Clifton Pinot, who tested positive for banned sedative reserpine after finishing in 13th at Burghley Horse Trials with Australian Kevin McNab, is back competing.
The 15-year-old gelding jumped double clear in an open intermediate at Aston-le-walls with Kevin’s girlfriend Emma Dougall last week (14 May).
Clifton Pinot is also entered for the 4-star at Luhmühlen with Australian rider Shane Rose next month (13-16 June)
Last year’s Burghley winner — Jock Paget’s ride Clifton Promise — also tested positive for same substance last September. Jock was officially disqualified from Burghley last month after a “partial decision” by the FEI.
Both Jock and Kevin are still provisionally suspended from national and international competition pending a full FEI tribunal. However, both horses are now free to compete.
“Clifton Pinot was provisionally suspended for 2 months, has served the suspension, and is able to compete”, an FEI spokesperson told H&H.
Frances Stead, the founder of Clifton Eventers, owns both horses.
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None of the Clifton horses that Jock campaigned last season have competed in the UK this year.
H&H contacted Mrs Stead for comment on Clifton Pinot’s competition plans but has had no response.
However, when H&H spoke to her following the news of Jock Paget’s disqualification from Burghley she reiterated that she continued to support both riders “fully through this tough time”.
“Neither has done anything wrong or anything to bring this unfortunate position upon themselves. As a result, I am expecting that the FEI tribunal finds them both ‘no fault’ when their cases are eventually heard,” she added.
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Sophia Heath joined Horse & Hound in July 2013 having previously worked for the Daily Telegraph's Olympics website, CNN International and Omnisport. A Durham graduate with a Masters in journalism from City University, Sophia has evented, showjumped and hunted. Sophia left Horse & Hound in early 2015 to join an international boating website.