EQUESTRIAN SPORT:The Fédération Équestre Internationale has suspended the Co Carlow rider Sam Watson for two months as his horse Ballybolger Bushman was found to have tested positive to procaine when randomly selected for testing during the CIC at Ballindenisk in April 2006, writes Margie McLoone.

The suspension commenced this week so will have little effect on the Trinity College business student as the eventing season does not start here again until March. Watson was also fined 1,000 Swiss francs by the FEI tribunal and has to contribute 500 Swiss francs toward the cost of the judicial procedure.

The tribunal accepted that Watson, at college at the time, was unaware his horse had been treated with the antibiotic Neopen, having cut a knee in a fall two weeks previously. His father, John, took responsibility for this action and also for failing to submit a "medication one" form upon their arrival at Ballindenisk, as required by rule.

Last June, Watson senior had sought the termination of the proceedings as, among other reasons cited, the original certificate of analysis mentioned blood instead of urine as the liquid examined by the French laboratory in May 2006.

The FEI decided, however, to proceed with the case as the results of a corrected certificate of analysis, issued by the French laboratory, were confirmed last March by the Hong Kong Jockey Club laboratory.

Contacted yesterday by The Irish Times, Watson senior stated: "I am pleased that this case can now be put behind us. I consider that the decision of the tribunal has been well judged to ensure that all sides emerge with their integrity intact. This case contained some unusual points of law which were well argued and might well be interpreted differently if taken further. But I intend to keep to the principle that matters of sport should be resolved within the sport.

"The FEI medication control programme depends on the policy of strict liability of the rider. I believe that the comparative leniency of the sanction and its timing shows that the tribunal accepted that Sam was not involved with my mistake. But a sanction conveys the message that where international riders are not involved in the daily management of their horses, they are obliged to be extra vigilant to check everything which might have happened in their absence."

MOTOR SPORT: FIA president Max Mosley last night declared himself "absolutely at ease" with the decision not to punish Renault over their role in the spy saga.

Former world champions Renault were yesterday found guilty by the World Motor Sport Council of being in unauthorised possession of confidential technical information belonging to McLaren.

But the WMSC opted not to impose any penalty against the French marque, allowing them to compete in next year's Formula One world championship without any cloud hanging over them.

Speaking after the five-hour hearing in Monaco yesterday, Mosley said: "We will put out a full explanation of the decision tomorrow and that will explain everything.

"I wouldn't say it was a fairly easy decision to take because the hearing took several hours."