Belgian team eventing result disqualified

THE FEI Tribunal has issued its final decision in a case involving a Prohibited Substance from the Olympic Games Paris 2024. In this case, the horse Dia Van Het Lichterveld Z ridden by Tine Magnus (BEL) at the Olympic Games in eventing, tested positive for the prohibited substance Trazodone.

Magnus was able to trace the source of the banned substance in the horse’s system back to the supplement RELAX PRO – Global Medics – Equine Care Group. This finding was based on an independent analysis requested by Magnus from two highly recognised toxicologists. “This contamination hence accounted for the positive finding in the horse, and the athlete had clearly established on a balance of probabilities, how the Banned Substance Trazodone entered the horse’s system,” the decision stated. Consequently, the FEI and the athlete entered into a settlement agreement as follows: “In its final decision, the FEI Tribunal accepted the settlement agreement and imposed an ineligibility period of five months on the athlete from the starting date of the final decision. The provisional suspension of the athlete, which came into effect on September 3rd, 2024, shall be credited against the ineligibility period, meaning the athlete will be eligible to compete as of February 3rd 2025. The athlete is also fined CHF 4,000”.

The results obtained by Magnus at the Olympic Games in Paris have been disqualified and consequently, in accordance with art 623.2 of the FEI Regulations for Equestrian Events at the Olympic Games, the Belgian team’s results, fourth place in the eventing team competition are disqualified. This changes the Irish team result from ninth up to eighth.