Settlements agreed in three human anti-doping cases

The FEI Tribunal has today ratified agreements in three human anti-doping cases between the athletes and the FEI, global governing body for equestrian sport.

The three US athletes, who were tested at the Ocala-Reddick CCI in Florida (USA) last November, were provisionally suspended from 21 December 2017, the date of notification of their adverse analytical findings under the FEI Anti-Doping Rules for Human Athletes (ADRHA).

Samples taken from the athletes – Alyssa Phillips (FEI ID 10047498), Hannah Burnett (FEI ID 10007210) and Jennie Brannigan (FEI ID: 10013055) – all returned positive for Amfetamine. In addition, Alyssa Phillips’ sample contained Canrenone, and the sample taken from Jennie Brannigan also included Methylphenidate and Ritalinic Acid.

Under the terms of the settlements, a one-year period of ineligibility will be imposed on the athletes from the date of sample collection, 18 November 2017. The athletes will each pay a fine of CHF 1,500, and their results from the competition will be disqualified. Each of the parties will bear their own legal costs.

Additionally, the athletes are required to support the FEI in its anti-doping campaign and to actively engage in athlete education, including providing testimonials for FEI education material. And the athletes must complete an anti-doping education course within one year of the FEI Tribunal’s final decision.

“All three athletes were able to prove no significant fault or negligence and the circumstances of the cases show that none of them had the intention to dope”, FEI Legal Director Mikael Rentsch said. “In light of this, and the fact that the athletes have subsequently been granted Therapeutic Use Exemptions for these medications, the parties agreed that the period of ineligibility should be reduced to 12 months, and the FEI Tribunal has approved that.”

In accordance with the WADA Code, the FEI has notified WADA and the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) of the FEI Tribunal decisions.

The full decisions are available here.

Suzanne Ashton

Suzanne Ashton, Founder of Everything Horse (Est, 2012), has a BA Hons in Marketing Management and a Diploma in Equine Science. Suzanne has ridden and owned horses all her life and has twelve years of experience in marketing, writing, design, SEO, and website creation.