The hearing to decide if showjumper Cian O'Connor will be stripped of his Olympic gold medal could take place before Christmas, an International Equestrian Federation (FEI) spokesman said yesterday. The move follows two positive dope tests on O'Connor's horse, Waterford Crystal.
"I think everybody would like it to be heard before Christmas, but it's very complex," the FEI spokesman told The Irish Times yesterday. "The FEI will do everything it can to get the case heard as quickly as possible, but we have to be fair to Cian O'Connor and give him a chance to get together his witnesses."
The showjumper's solicitor, Mr Andrew Coonan, said yesterday he hoped to have O'Connor's defence completed in time to meet the December 2nd deadline. "Everyone wants to get it done as quickly as possible, but it depends on logistics whether it can be done or not," he said.
"We're working away at the moment and we hope to get it all done in time, but we might have to ask for an extension."
Under FEI regulations, riders can request an extension if their defence has not been completed when the deadline expires. "There has to be really strong justification not to grant an extension", the FEI spokesman said.
A case involving American-born German team member Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum, whose horse, Shutterfly, tested positive for prohibited substances after finishing second at the World Cup final in Milan in April, still has not been heard.
Cian O'Connor's legal team will be using expert witnesses as part of their defence. It is believed they have already sought to retain the services of Dr Thomas Tobin, professor of veterinary science at the University of Kentucky's Gluck Equine Research Centre.
Meanwhile, Irishman Mr Michael Stone has been named as co-ordinator of the new FEI taskforce set up to review policies on medication and doping of horses. Mr Stone, who is the FEI's sports director, said from his office in Lausanne yesterday: "This will be a very transparent taskforce.
"But we have to make sure it's done right. We want the right people to have an input. We don't want it to be a knee-jerk reaction. We have to make sure it's sustainable in the long-term."
Mr Sven Homberg, a Swede, who was a senior judge at the Athens Olympics, is expected to be announced as chairman of the taskforce - a five-member committee. It is expected that its composition will be announced next week and a meeting will be scheduled before Christmas.