Michael Whitaker to appear before FEI tribunal for doping
Top British show jumper Michael Whitaker will appear in front of an International Equestrian Federation (FEI) disciplinary tribunal on 11 September, after his ride Tackeray tested positive for a banned drug.
The four-times Olympic rider was suspended by the FEI on 26 June after traces of the hormone altrenogest were found in a sample taken from the stallion at La Baule on 14 May (news, 2 July).
Altrenogest is found in Regumate, a preparation that can legally be given to in-season mares, but not to stallions — on which it also has a calming effect.
Michael has not requested a second sample — the B sample — be tested, and blames the positive test on a mix-up in feed buckets as he has mares that compete on Regumate.
On Monday (24 August), Michael declined to comment on the case to H&H, saying: “There’s not much more to be said at this stage.”
FEI spokesman Malina Gueorguiev said: “We don’t know yet whether Michael will appear in person at the tribunal hearing in Lausanne on 11 September.”
This article was first published in Horse & Hound (27 August, ’09)
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