Suspensions on Guerdat and Bichsel lifted

The FEI Tribunal has lifted the provisional suspensions on Swiss jumping riders Steve Guerdat and Alessandra Bichsel following a prelimary hearing.

Contamination

Both riders had been previously suspended after horses they had been competing on tested positive for prohibited substances, but following hearings last week via teleconferences the suspensions have been lifted.

The decision was made after scientific evidence presented by the athletes suggested food contamination was to blame for the positive test results.

Substances

Guerdat’s mounts Nino des Buissonnets tested positive for banned substances codeine, oripavine and the medically-controlled substance morphine during the CSI05* in La Baule France.

His other horse Nasa had trace amounts of the same substances in his system, but not enough to towest positive.

Bichsel’s horse Charivari also tested positive for codeine, oripavine and morphine on 8 May at a Young Riders’ competition in Deauville France.

However, while the provisional suspensions on the riders have been lifted, the suspensions on the three horses remain in place.