Razan Baker

Saudi Gazette 

 

LONDON – On Friday (June 15) the two Saudi riders who were banned from show jumping competitions for eight months will be back to compete after the Court of Arbitration for Sport lifted their ban Monday.



The London-based court announced its decision to lift the ban on the two Saudi Arabian riders who were banned from participating in any equestrian competition for eight months commencing February 2012. The judge clarified that based on the drug found in the doping tests, the ban was supposed to be for two months not eight, and hence they were free to compete.



Speaking to Khaled Al-Eid after the court decision he said, “Thank God we are really happy it turned out well. The time is now short and we need to get back to competitions. My horse Presley Boy is already qualified to the London 2012 which is a good thing, and hopefully Al-Sharbatly’s horse Sultan V would qualify soon before June 17. Our upcoming competition will be this Friday in Holland.”



The ban which was supposed to end in October according to the Switzerland-based Court of Arbitration of Sport (CAS) rule was going to prevent Khaled Al-Eid, 43, 2000 Sydney Olympics bronze medalist and horse (Vanhoeve), and 29-year old Abdullah Al-Sharbatly, silver medalist at the 2010 World Equestrian Games with horse (Lobster 43) from participating in the London 2012, which takes place from July 27 to August 12.



The banned riders, in addition, had their appeal heard in London against the International Equestrian Federation ban on both for eight months after their horses tested positive for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs at competitions; in Riyadh and Al-Ain in February.



The Saudi equestrian team manager Sami Al-Duhammi said, “The ban was really harsh and usually with similar cases the ban is only for two months not eight, but we were confident in our riders innocence and provided all possible evidences and that helped us and convinced the judge since it all made sense.”



In addition to the ban, he added, the western and even local media was unjust to us in the beginning, putting a lot of pressure on our team without even having all the evidences cleared out properly. “But thank God the truth was finally revealed and justice prevailed.”



Al-Duhammi explained when athletes tend to drug their horses or themselves, the dope dose appears with high percentage after testing, and with Al-Eid and Al-Surbatly’s horses it was very low. Our only explanation is that the stable was not clean enough and the stable feed got contaminated.



He added, the substance found in the horses’ tests was not even a performance-enhancing drug; it was more of a soothing drug with similar substance to what is found in any paracetamol. The horses tested positive for Phenylbutazone and Oxyphenbutazone (a metabolite of Phenylbutazone).

“Honestly, everyone knows how good they are, and it is only because they are usually leading their races, they were asked for anti-doping testing 11 times within three months only!” The neatness of the stables is a very critical issue and Al-Duhami said, “I really advise all riders and equestrians federations to pay clear attention to it, because it could happen to anyone and especially in our region.”



The Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) had also sent a letter praising the Saudi team for their awareness, professionalism throughout the ban, and the court procedures which followed all the rules and regulations and helped in lifting the ban.



Speaking to Prince Faisal Bin Abdullah, Minister of Education and chairman of the Saudi Equestrian Fund earlier before the court appeal he said, “All we have done is to promote sports and equestrian in specific. I have no doubt in our riders not even one percent.”



“I am confident their experience in the field and principles would never allow them to commit such a thing. Its only negligence at the stables environment,” said Prince Faisal, who was in London to celebrate the launch of “The Horse: From Arabia to Royal Ascot,” exhibition running at the British Museum till the end of September. In addition, Ziad Abduljawwd, Managing Director of the Saudi Equestrian Fund said the team alongside their horses will be provided with extra security and cameras monitoring everything to ensure their safety until they reach London 2012.



Both horses were tested positive during the world cup qualifying competitions first when Vanhoeve was sampled at the Riyadh CSI3*-W in the competition which took place from Nov. 30 to Dec. 3, 2011. The results were delivered to Al-Eid on Feb. 2. The Saudi Equestrian Federation voluntarily suspended him on that day and the Tribunal in addition, imposed a fine of 1000 Swiss francs and costs of CHF3000. The Tribunal imposed another fine too of CHF1000 and costs of CHF3000 on Al-Sharbatly horse Lobster 43 who was tested at the CSI3*-W at Al-Ain in the UAE which ran from Feb. 9-11, 2012. Al-Sharbatly was notified on Feb. 24, and went on a voluntarily suspension on Feb. 28.



In addition to having Al-Eid and Al-Sharbatly leading the list of the nominated Saudi riders to the Olympics, the final names for the five qualified riders and horses to participate at the London 2012 will be finalized and announced on July 9.