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The EFA National Office has issued a statement concerning allegations made by e-mail and on web sites surrounding Tim Amitrano's horse "Mr. Innocent".
On Monday morning, 11 October 2004, we received a widely-circulated e-mail from a person of as yet unconfirmed identity, making a series of allegations and accusations concerning the Federation in connection with a positive swab.
It is EFA and FEI policy not to publicly disclose details of alleged anti-doping or medication control infractions before the judicial process has been completed. This is, however, a high-profile case and it is a fact that the identity of the horse/rider combination involved is already widely known. To make a statement without mentioning names does not seem to make much sense.
The sequence of events has been as follows:
* On 18 August 2004 (effectively 19 August due to time zone differences; Day 6 of the Athens Olympic Games), the FEI advised the EFA National Office in Sydney by facsimile that the A-sample taken on 18 June 2004 from the horse Mr. Innocent (“Person Responsible”: Tim Amitrano) during the Rotterdam CSIO had tested positive to prohibited substances.
* The EFA advised the “Person Responsible” in Athens on 19 August 2004 and also advised the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) of the report. The AOC was at the time officially in charge of horses and riders as part of the Australian delegation to the Games. The AOC allowed the combination to compete.
* Within the period of 10 days provided for in FEI Veterinary Regulations, the “Person Responsible” made a request to the FEI for a confirmatory analysis of the B-sample to be carried out. He also submitted a statement to the FEI Judicial Committee.
* So far, the FEI has not advised the results of the B-sample confirmatory analysis. In fact, we have been told that the FEI has not as yet received the results.
Any rider accused of an anti-doping infraction is allowed to continue competing until the respective judicial authority, in this case the FEI Judicial Committee, has considered all evidence presented to it and has taken a decision on the case which may include a suspension, and the period to lodge an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport has expired or been waived by the rider.
Franz Venhaus
Chief Executive Officer
© Copyright 2004 by SportHorseCM.com
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