RETIRED Canadian show jumper Eric Lamaze has been suspended until 2031 after the International Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled against him in a human anti-doping case initiated by the Fédération Equestre International (FEI) in 2022.
The case originated in Lamaze’s refusal to submit to a human drug test at the CSI5* GCT/GCL event at Valkenswaard (NED), in June 2021.
On March 8th, 2022, Mr Lamaze received a formal notice of disciplinary charge by the FEI, for an anti-doping rule violation in accordance with article 2.3 Evading, Refusing or Failing to Submit to Sample Collection by an Athlete, of the FEI Anti-Doping Rules for Human Athletes (ADRHA).
The case was elevated to CAS to be settled and, while the CAS proceedings were ongoing, Mr Lamaze submitted forged medical documents, which led to a four-year ineligibility period being imposed by the FEI and starting on September 12th, 2023.
The documents, purportedly relating to Lamaze’s treatment for brain cancer, were ruled fraudulent by a Canadian judge presiding over a horse sales lawsuit involving Lamaze, who submitted them in an attempt to excuse himself from testifying.
In its decision last week, the CAS Panel found Mr Lamaze guilty of the anti-doping rule violation and imposed an ineligibility period of four years, starting once the ineligibility period already imposed by the FEI has ended. The additional four-year suspension imposed by CAS will start on September 12th, 2027 and will end on September 11th, 2031. Furthermore, Mr Lamaze was fined CHF 15,000, was ordered to pay the costs of the arbitration proceedings, as well as CHF 12,000 to the FEI as a contribution towards the legal fees. The results obtained at the event, along with all results obtained by the Lamaze at FEI Events from June 5th, 2021, to March 3oth, 2022, were disqualified.
Lamaze withdrew from consideration for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics in May 2021 citing alleged brain cancer health concerns and handed the reins of his horses over to fellow Canadian Beth Underhill in November 2021.