An Irish showjumper has been banned from competition for five months after his horse tested positive for prohibited substances at a show in Cavan last November.
Christian Coyle (25), from Ardmore in Co Derry, has also been fined 1,500 Swiss francs (€966) and ordered to pay costs of 1,000 Swiss francs after the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) ruled there had been a deliberate attempt to enhance performance.
Coyle's horse Glenkeen Highlight tested positive for a cocktail of three non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs - phenlybutazone, oxyphenbutazone and flunixin.
The case was deemed a grade one offence, the most serious breach of the FEI's anti-doping regulations reserved for drugs with a high potential to affect the performance of the horse.
Coyle did not request confirmatory analysis, but did fax a statement to the FEI's Lausanne headquarters in April explaining that the horse had been treated by Co Down veterinarian Bruce Steele in August 2004 and again on November 1st, 11 days before the start of the Cavan fixture.
Coyle's statement declared the horse had been treated with hyonate, a non-steroidal treatment for joints, and an unspecified steroid.
A veterinary source told The Irish Times last night that the recommended withdrawal time for the three substances found in Glenkeen Highlight's sample is 10 days and that the drugs would normally be below therapeutic levels within 12 to 48 hours.
The FEI requested Coyle to provide a veterinary explanation from the treating vet, but no statement was forthcoming. It is believed an e-mailed statement from Dr Steele mistakenly went to the wrong e-mail address and was never received by the FEI.
The FEI judicial committee took into account that it was Coyle's first offence. Because the substances involved were deemed grade one, and Coyle had not substantiated his explanation of veterinary treatment with a statement from Steele, the committee imposed a five-month suspension, plus the fine and costs.
In its case report, the judicial committee declared the sanctions to be "appropriate and proportional".
Coyle refused to comment when contacted by The Irish Times yesterday, but it is understood he is considering appealing the case. He has until September 18th to lodge an appeal against the sanctions.