EQUESTRIAN SPORT DOPING ISSUEJOE WALSH, chairman of Horse Sport Ireland, stated yesterday the governing body were committed to a clean sport where "the welfare of the horse was a top priority".
Walsh was speaking following the conclusion of a near three-hour meeting of the board of HSI at their headquarters in Naas. While those interviewed leaving expressed themselves "satisfied with what we heard", nothing new was revealed to the media regarding the Denis Lynch doping/medication case now subject to due process.
An expert group, whose findings are to be reported before the end of the year, has been established to advise the board on what procedures and controls can be put in place to avoid a similar situation arising again. "This is a very complex area with very difficult veterinary and legal issues to be looked at," continued Walsh. "I have asked this expert group to propose measures that will ensure prohibited substances have no part to play in equestrian sport."
The group, which will be chaired by Gordon Holmes, solicitor and former deputy chief steward of the Turf Club, comprises Prof Tom Buckley, head of forensics at the Irish Equine Centre; Dr Una May, head of the Irish Sports Council's anti-doping programme; Dermot Forde, FEI testing veterinarian for Ireland; and board members Ronan Corrigan, chairman of Showjumping Ireland, and Bernie Brennan, chair of HSI's international show jumping management committee.
Walsh also stated the board had total confidence in the management team in Hong Kong, namely HSI's chief executive Damian McDonald, team manager Robert Splaine and Marcus Swail, team veterinary surgeon.
