Canadian show jumper banned from event

Eric Lamaze, the Canadian show jumper who tested positive for cocaine in an out of competition dope test last month, has been banned from competing at the Olympics.

The 32-year-old, who was originally handed a life ban after the positive result on August 29th, successfully appealed the ban at home in Canada and had hoped to be cleared to ride at Sydney. The appeal came before an adjudicator, Edward Ratushny, appointed by the Canadian Centre for Sport and Law, who found in Lamaze's favour on Saturday and ruled that he should be reinstated.

The decision was announced on Monday, but at an emergency meeting of the Canadian Olympic Association (COA) in Sydney yesterday, it was unanimously agreed that Lamaze should be barred from competing.

"The facts are clear," COA president Bill Warren said yesterday. "Mr Lamaze signed the COA athlete agreement stating that he would not take narcotics.

"His use of cocaine is in direct contravention of that and there was unanimous support for terminating his position as a member of the Olympic team in Sydney."