A blood sample taken from Irish Olympic gold-medal winning horse Waterford Crystal has tested positive for prohibited substances, it was confirmed this afternoon.
In a statement, the Equestrian Federation of Ireland (EFI) said it had received notification yesterday from the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) that a blood sample taken from the horse at the Olympic Games had tested positive for a banned substance.
Cian O'Connor won Ireland's only gold medal at the Olympic Games in Athens in August when he jumped a clear round on the horse in the final of the show jumping event.
He said he was "devastated" by the news and denied any wrongdoing.
"I am utterly devastated that the A sample taken from my horse at the Games has tested positive. That notion amounts to cheating, and I am not a cheat."
He said he planned to have the B sample tested as soon as possible and to proceed from there with the FEI.
"I believe that I won this medal fair and square and that the horse has not been given anything that would make him jump better," he continued, and said he had acted honourably "both for myself and my country".
He said: "I am fully aware of the FEI rules, and I know that I must take responsibility for any medication administered to my horse. I am very professional, and take everything extremely seriously, both veterinary matters and the stable management at this level of competition."
O'Connor said he informed the EFI that on July 22nd his horse had incurred a mild fetlock injury and after assessment his vet,Mr James Sheeran, had advised hydrotherapy treatment involving confinement in an enclosed hydrotherapy unit.
Since the horse was in peak fitness, it was feared that he may have injured himself during the treatment so sedation was prescribed.
"I can categorically state that the medication administered by me was not a performance-enhancing substance, but was used after careful consideration, in the best interests of the horse's welfare, over a month before the Games.
"Any residue that may have existed in the horse's system at the time of the Olympic Games would certainly have no therapeutic influence, good or bad," Mr Sheeran said.
EFI President Ms Avril Doyle said neither the EFI nor O'Connor would be elaborating any further until the FEI gives its final adjudication to the EFI.
A spokesman for the Olympic Council of Ireland told ireland.comit would not be making any comment because it had not been informed of today's developments. "Once the Games are over we have no authority," the spokesman said.
In a statement the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Mr O'Donoghue, said he had learned "with great disappointment" of the positive test.
The statement said the Minister has noted that O'Connor had exercised his right of due process in accordance with FEI regulations and said it was "in the interest of all parties that this matter be processed as quickly as possible so that finality is brought to the situation."
