REACTION:THE DECISION to suspend Irish rider Denis Lynch from the Olympic Games because his horse failed a drug test is both "disappointing" and "bewildering", Fine Gael spokeswoman on sport Olivia Mitchell said yesterday.
Ms Mitchell said the revelation dashed the nation's hopes of another potential Olympic medal "in the worst possible way" and added to the "cynicism" which overshadows equestrian events at the Olympic Games.
"If there's one thing the Irish should know, it's horses. We're the second-biggest horse-exporting nation in the world so it's a big blow for the country," she said.
Lynch's horse, Lantinus, was one of four horses banned from competing in yesterday's Olympic show-jumping competition for alleged doping offences.
Ms Mitchell said the development was another blow for equestrian sport in Ireland, which is still haunted by memories of showjumper Cian O'Connor being stripped of his Olympic gold medal four years ago in Athens.
The latest development would cause "dismay" among the Irish public, she said. "Considering all the expertise available, and Ireland's loss of a medal at the last Olympics due to drug offences, it begs the question: how could this happen again?"
A number of bookmakers said they were refunding all bets on Lynch to win an Olympic medal.
