CHINA has lost its place in the eventing competition at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games following a positive Controlled Medication case for Alex Hua Tian’s Chicko at the CCIO3*-L Olympic qualifier held at Millstreet in Co Cork in June where the country earned its qualifying slot when finishing second to Australia.

The reallocation of China’s team slot to Japan, who placed third at the event, is a consequence of the disqualification of the results for the Chinese combination, which sees China drop into fourth place on a finishing score of 207.2, while Japan moves up into second place on 125.7.

British-based Hua Tian, the most high profile Chinese event rider who won the team and individual gold at the Asian Games earlier this month, was the first from his country to ride at an Olympic Games in 2008 and he finished eighth at Rio in 2016, but the Millstreet qualification was a first for the team from China.

The 13-year-old gelding Chicko tested positive for the controlled medication altrenogest on June 2nd 2023. Altrenogest is better known as Regumate, which is used as an oestrus suppressant for mares, which helps to regulate cyclicity throughout the phases of the reproductive season.

Following confirmatory analysis of the B sample, Hua Tian elected for the administrative procedure in accordance with art. 8.3 of the Equine Anti-Doping and Controlled Medication Regulations. The consequences of this administrative procedure include the disqualification of the results obtained by the combination at the event, a fine of CHF 1,500 and costs of CHF 2,000 for the B sample. As this was an administrative procedure for a controlled medication violation, no suspension was imposed on Hua Tian.

Total shock

An independent investigation conducted after the fact concluded that the horse’s ingestion of the medication was inadvertent.

A statement from Hua Tian said: “On July 10th 2023, I was notified of a positive test on my horse, Chicko, for the controlled medication (not banned substance) altrenogest, prescribed and sold in the UK as Regumate. As a passionate supporter of clean sport, with a pristine record at international level for 18 years and knowing how careful we are as a team with any risk of contamination, I was in total shock.

“With the support of Richard Davison, Schelstraete Equine Law, JunZeJun Law and Penny Ecroyd we put together a team of specialist vets, equine scientists and toxicologists to conduct a thorough investigation into the circumstances that led to this adverse analytical finding.

“The investigation has found conclusively that the trace amount of altrenogest detected, inadvertently entered Chicko through urine contaminated hay that he had accessed and consumed from the next door stable at this competition.”

Hua Tian explained that Chicko gained access to hay from the mare in the next stable who was being treated with Regumate, which is permitted in mares.

He added: “The core principles of the FEI, clean sport and the level playing field which I not only accept but support wholeheartedly is that a horse that is found to have a controlled medication in its system during competition is a rule violation and as a result is automatically disqualified from that competition, regardless of how that substance entered the horse.

“The disqualification of my result resulted in China losing our team qualification for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. I am in total disbelief. I take full responsibility for the consequences.

“I sincerely apologise to the country, the Chinese Equestrian Association, my teammates Bao Yingfeng, Sun Huadong, Liang Ruiji, our horse owners, partners, our equestrian community and supporters.”