‘Truly exceptional’: the out of the ordinary dope tests
Two unusual cases of positive samples at international showjumping competitions have recently come to light
THE positive dope test given by a mare who was put down after she broke a leg at the Liverpool International Horse Show is the latest in a string of unusual cases.
Dutch showjumper Sanne Thijssen’s ride Sara Galotiere, who suffered the fatal injury in a class on 30 December, tested positive for ketamine and altrenogest.
Sanne received a letter this month suspending her for six months, but says she did not know the horse had been tested.
“It was a very strange story,” Sanne’s mother Dorien said. “The vet gave [the mare] painkillers, and she was later put to sleep.
“Sanne was so sad, she wanted to stay but wasn’t allowed. We begged the vets to let her; she didn’t want her horse to die alone, but they said no. She was alone; we don’t know what happened.”
Sanne consulted vets, who said ketamine is used to anaesthetise horses, as well as being a painkiller, so they believe it may have been given due to the injury.
“I don’t know how it got there otherwise,” Sanne said. “Ketamine is an anaesthetic; you couldn’t ride on it, it’s stupid to think you could jump a 1.50m class.”
Sanne said the mare was on Regumate, which is allowed under FEI rules for mares with oestrusrelated behavioural problems, if the rider has the right form signed by a vet. Sanne said she had this, in the horse’s passport.
“She was dope-tested last July when she was on that and there was no problem,” Sanne said.
“They’re saying she tested positive for it, but it’s legal and the form was signed by the clinic. If
I’d known they were testing her, I’d have showed it to them.”
Sanne is to take the matter to the FEI Tribunal, in an attempt to clear her name.
“We’ve got a lawyer working on it,” she said. “It’s so sad, and then after all the drama, this happens. Something went wrong, for sure.”
KNOBBLING
THE case follows that of Hungarian showjumper Lazlo Toth Jnr, who doped countrymen’s horses as he wanted their place on their European Championships team, the FEI Tribunal found.
In a case described as “truly exceptional” by the FEI, Gabor Szabo Jnr and Mariann Hugyecz asked for their horses to be tested during a three-star show in Slovakia last August, as they had noticed needle marks and unusual symptoms. Witnesses reported seeing Lazlo Toth Jnr, who had been named as reserve for the European squad, leaving the box of Gabor’s ride Timpex Bolcsesz.
A statement from the groom working for Hungarian rider Gyula Szuhai, said he saw Toth approaching the box with an “apple and a syringe”.
The FEI panel concluded there was a “very plausible explanation” as to how the drugs entered the horses’ systems. It found Gabor Jnr and Mariann were not to blame for the violations.
“The FEI accepts the circumstances of the case were truly exceptional on the basis that the presence of the controlled substances was most likely due to sabotage of Laszlo Toth,” the FEI statement concluded. “As the fifth rider of the national team, it is also highly likely Laszlo Toth has sabotaged… to be able to compete at the European Championship.”
The FEI declined to comment on Sanne’s case as it is ongoing, and said the Hungarian federation is dealing with Toth.
“Once there is a decision [on Toth], the FEI will decide whether a case will be opened,” said a spokesman. “The FEI has reserved the right to do so.”
A spokesman for Liverpool said it had not been advised by the FEI of a positive test at the show.