An expert group is to be set up to avoid a re-run of the doping scandal which saw one of Ireland’s Olympic gold medal hopes withdraw from the Beijing Games.
After a day long meeting in Naas today Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) confirmed they will recommend the procedures and controls needed to avoid a repeat of showjumper Denis Lynch’s early exit.
Joe Walsh, HSI chairman, said they would adopt a zero tolerance policy.
“This is a very complex area with very difficult veterinary and legal issues to be looked at,” he said.
“I have asked this expert group to propose measures that will ensure prohibited substances have no part to play in equestrian sport.
“As an industry we must adopt a zero tolerance approach,” Lynch’s prize winning horse, Lantinus, tested positive for the banned substance Capsaicin hours before the final in Hong Kong.
The rider later admitted he had used the Equi-Block lotion even though he knew it contained the pain-killing substance.
It was the second doping scandal in two successive Olympics after Cian O’Connor was stripped of a gold medal from Athens.
Mr Walsh said he expected findings from the panel by the end of the year and new procedures in place for 2009.
“It is important that we address all eventualities, not just the most recent case,” he said.
“Unfortunately we have had a number of high profile cases involving horses testing positive and we need to look at the lessons from all of these.”
He insisted, however, a number of precautions had been taken in advance of Beijing including ensuring the horses had been tested post-competition in the run-up to the Games.
HSI also carried out its own tests.
“Everybody involved with Horse Sport Ireland is asking themselves what more we could have done to prevent this catastrophe,” he said.
Lynch’s case is to be heard by the FEI in Lausanne on Saturday September 6th.
The rider, one of the top showjumpers in Europe this year, could be facing a long ban.
PA