Top British show jumper Michael Whitaker will appear in front of an International Equestrian Federation (FEI) disciplinary tribunal on 11 September, after his ride Tackeray tested positive for a banned drug.
The four-times Olympic rider was suspended by the FEI on 26 June after traces of the hormone altrenogest were found in a sample taken from the stallion at La Baule on 14 May (news, 2 July).
Altrenogest is found in Regumate, a preparation that can legally be given to in-season mares, but not to stallions — on which it also has a calming effect.
Michael has not requested a second sample — the B sample — be tested, and blames the positive test on a mix-up in feed buckets as he has mares that compete on Regumate.
On Monday (24 August), Michael declined to comment on the case to H&H, saying: “There’s not much more to be said at this stage.”
FEI spokesman Malina Gueorguiev said: “We don’t know yet whether Michael will appear in person at the tribunal hearing in Lausanne on 11 September.”
This article was first published in Horse & Hound (27 August, ’09)
