Sheikh stripped of endurance title

The International Equestrian Federation has stripped Sheikh Majid bin Mohd Al Maktoum of his third place in the 2005 European Endurance Championship.

His horse, Orkara, tested positive to guanabenz and its metabolite hydroxy-guanabenz — a long-acting sedative and analgesic used in humans to decrease heartrate.

Representing the UAE the Sheikh, then 17, was too young to be dealt with as the “person responsible” (PR).

Ismail Mohammed, an experienced trainer, was nominated as PR. On 28 June, the FEI judicial committee suspended him from taking part in or training horses at international events for one year and fined him CHF5,000 (£2,207).

While Mr Mohammed said the drug could have been given “during the race by a third party”, the committee concluded he could not rebut the presumption of a deliberate attempt to affect performance.

• This news report was first published in Horse & Hound (13 July, ’06)

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