June 16, 2010 — A panel of the F?d?ration Equestre Internationale (FEI) Tribunal ruled June 15 in the Equine Anti-Doping and Medication Control Rule case involving the horse Cornet Obolensky, ridden by Marco Kutscher of Germany at the 2008 Olympic Games.
Kutscher admitted to the Tribunal that the horse had been treated with Lactanase, a Medication A Prohibited Substance at the 2008 Olympic equestrian events in Hong Kong, however, he claimed that he believed at the time that the team veterinarian had followed the necessary protocols to ensure the treatment was permitted and within the rules.
Consistent with the FEI’s strict liability approach to anti-doping rule violations, the panel has found that Kutscher was the person responsible for the horse and that he thereby violated the FEI Anti-Doping and Medication Control Rules because of the undocumented treatment. Kutscher and the horse have been disqualified from all placings at the 2008 Olympic Games. He did not win any medals at the Games.
A period of suspension was not imposed on Mr Kutscher as the Tribunal felt the timing would be unfair, but he was instead fined an unprecedented $8,842 because of his negligence and ordered to pay $4,421 in legal costs. Kutscher has 30 days to appeal this decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
The full text of the decision is available here as a PDF: Cornet Obolensky Final Tribunal.
