Show jumper Cameron Hanley cleared and back on Irish team
Show jumper Cameron Hanley has been chosen to ride for Ireland in the sixth round of the Meydan FEI Nations Cup in Falsterbo, Sweden (16-19 July), after being cleared of doping suspicions by the International Equestrian Federation (FEI).
Mr Hanley ruled himself out of competition at Aachen after a syringe was allegedly found in the pocket of his jacket at a competition in Balve, Germany (news, 2 July).
But on Friday the FEI confirmed samples taken from the three horses ridden by Mr Hanley at Balve had returned negative results.
“The FEI has acted consistently with its testing procedures and is satisfied with this result,” said FEI general counsel Lisa Lazarus.
“While the outcome of this situation establishes that none of Cameron Hanley’s horses competing at Balve were administered prohibited substances, Mr Hanley acted appropriately by stepping aside from competition in Aachen to avoid attracting unnecessary attention to the Irish team.
“While it is never a positive thing to discover a used syringe on competition grounds — his decision to avoid competing to remove doubt as to the perceived fairness of competition should be commended.”
Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) show jumping manager Robert Splaine said: “I am glad Cameron can now put recent events behind him.
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“He took a very mature decision for the good of the team in relation to Aachen and will be a great asset to the team for this competition [at Falsterbo].”
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A self-confessed newshound, farmer’s daughter and journalist of many years' experience, Charlotte worked on regional papers before joining H&H in 2007. A regular rider, she visited Ireland in 2010 to investigate the fate of Irish horses through the recession, to much acclaim, and reported from the FEI General Assembly in Rio de Janeiro in 2011. She left Horse & Hound in March 2013.