USEF
Response to FEI Press Release Regarding Positive Drug Test of Dressage Team Horse
Mythilus at 2008 Olympic Games
By Joanie Morris Lexington,
KY - Following a routine drug test on August 19 at the 2008 Olympic Games in Hong
Kong, Mythilus, a US dressage horse, ridden by Courtney King-Dye,
was found to have tested positive for Felbinac. Felbinac is considered a class
A prohibited substance by the FEI. Felbinac is usually applied topically for the
relief of local pain and inflammation and belongs to a group of medicines called
non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). When
Mythilus arrived in Hong Kong he was treated in the Hong Kong Jockey Club Clinic
for artrial fibrillation as a result of stress from his trip. USEF Veterinarian,
Dr. Rick Mitchell attended to the horse in close cooperation with the Veterinary
Commission. King-Dye and Dr. Mitchell believe that during treatment at
the clinic, he may have come in contact with Felbinac. In discussion with
King-Dye, USEF vets, grooms and physical therapists, no other explanation
or conclusion was able to be drawn. “Neither
I nor my vets had ever heard of the drug Felbinac until we got the call about
Myth's positive test,” said King-Dye. “We were stunned and baffled.
We spent the entire day doing internet research on the uses for this drug and
how it could possibly have gotten into my horse's system. As far as we could find
it is not even manufactured, approved, or available in the US. My horse has had
no soundness problems whatsoever, and I would have no need for an anti-inflammatory.
Anyone who knows me knows whole heartedly that I would never dope my horse intentionally.
It is cheating; it is not putting your best against the other’s best. I have
never been in a more torturous and frustrating situation; trying to prove innocence
is very hard. It saddens me beyond description that my whole reputation could
be blackened because of this situation.” The
FEI Tribunal stated in their Preliminary Decision that “there are circumstances
in this case that makes it difficult to clear out how the Prohibited Substance
entered into the horse’s system.” “The
USEF stands behind the FEI's initiatives to rid the sport of doping and to protect
the welfare of our horses. We are equally supportive of Courtney in this
situation as this substance was unknown to any of us until a few days ago,”
said USEF CEO John Long. “It seems clear that Mythilus came into contact
with it without Courtney's or Dr. Mitchell's knowledge.” From
the FEI Press Release: King-Dye,
who placed 13th individually in the Dressage competition, was officially notified
on the morning of August 22 of the positive test result and the decision for provisional
suspension was upheld that evening at a preliminary hearing before one member
of the FEI Tribunal. Given
that the Dressage events of the 2008 Olympic Games ended on August 19 it was decided
to wait until the confirmatory B analysis prior to any public announcement of
the findings. The FEI has now received confirmation of the initial finding from
the analysis of the B sample. Next
steps: Now
that the B samples have confirmed all the initial findings, the process will follow
the Accelerated Medication Control Procedure during and after the 2008 Olympic
Games which is part of the FEI Regulations for Equestrian events at the 2008 Olympic
Games (Annex G), available on FEI Olympic website. Evidence
and written submissions have been requested from each rider, and a three-member
panel of the FEI Tribunal has been appointed. Hearings will be held on September
5-7 in Lausanne, however it is up to the Person Responsible whether or not they
wish to exercise or waive their right to be heard. The panel will then, in light
of all the evidence received, take a decision as to the applicable sanction if
any. An
update will be provided by the FEI following the hearings (September 8) and final
decisions will be announced prior to the end of the first week in October, provided
the hearings can be held as scheduled. However, these deadlines are indicative
timelines, and may be affected by specific circumstances as with any legal proceeding.
The
competition results will be amended as indicated in the Tribunal’s final
decision. Because
this case is still pending there will be no further comment from the USEF.
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