The 10th FEI Endurance World Championship was organized in Dubai and took place at the very beginning of 2005 at the height of the Endurance season in the UAE.
The event attracted a large number of participants – no less than 185 athletes and horses representing 41 NFs were entered. Given the large number of foreign horses travelling to Dubai, a gigantic airlift – one of the largest to date – was organised. This record was improved over time when the largest commercial airlift of horses ever undertaken in the history of horse sport was performed in connection with the FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2018.
In addition to the horses, some 750 athletes, chefs d’équipe, grooms, officials and other support personnel travelled to Dubai making the championship one of the largest single international equestrian competition to date.
Unfortunately, however, the championship will not be remembered for the large participation or good organisation. It was mired in controversy, which ended with a decision of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) over a year later.
Only 61 riders completed the 160-kilometre ride from a field of 175.
Sheik Hazza Bin Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan (UAE) came in first riding Hachim.
Barbara Lissarague (FRA) placed second aboard Georgat and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum (UAE), Minister of Defence of the UAE and at the time Crown Prince of Dubai, placed third on the 9-year old bay home bred Nashmi. This horse also won the Best Condition Award.
Canadian Daphne Richard with her 18-year-old Arabian gelding Cuchulain, completing the ride in 12 hours 49 minutes and 24 seconds and was the last rider in helping Canada to fourth in the team championship, behind team champion Italy, silver medallists Australia and bronze medal winners Belgium.
Upon finishing the competition, a urine sample was collected from the winning horse Hachim. Analysis of Sample A conducted by the associate Laboratory of the FEI Central Veterinary Research Laboratory, Equine Forensic Unit (UAE), revealed the presence of Methylprednisolone, which was a prohibited substance according to FEI Rules.
Metylprednisolone is an anti-inflammatory corticosteroid acting on the locomotor system. According to the FEI Rules in force at the time, it had been graded 3 by the FEI Medication Sub-Committee. Under the then-FEI grading system, a substance was graded “1” if it had a relative high potential to affect the performance of the horse and was graded “5” if it had a relative low potential to affect the performance of the horse.
Following the positive test, the Organising Committee did not let Sheik Hazza Bin Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan take part in the prize giving ceremony and ascend the podium. Barbara Lissarague was awarded the gold medal instead. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum took the silver.
The bronze medal should have gone to Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who had come in fourth place originally riding Mindari Aenzac. However, he declined to mount the podium in protest of Sheik Hazza Bin Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s disqualification.
After the championship, the winner, who, according to FEI Rules is the Person Responsible (PR) for the horse, requested a confirmatory analysis of the urine sample. On 24 March 2005, the FEI approved central laboratory, Laboratoire des Courses Hippiques, France performed the analysis of Sample B and confirmed the presence of Methylprednisolone.
However, the PR had not been duly informed of the date and place of the B Sample analysis and had been unable to send a witnessing analyst to the laboratory, although he had requested the opportunity to be represented.
On 28 April 2005, the FEI Judicial Committee took the decision to dismiss the positive medication case.
While noting the existence of two positive results, the Judicial Committee decided that the fact that the PR had not had the opportunity to have a witness present at the confirmatory analysis compromised his rights to such an extent that the results had to be disregarded.
Consequently, the Judicial Committee ruled that Sheik Hazza Bin Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan would receive the gold medal back along with all the relevant prizes won by him.
Barbara Lissarague and the French Equestrian Federation (Fédération Française d’Equitation FFE) appealed the decision of the FEI Judicial Committee to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). On 10 March 2006, after considering very substantial briefs as well as new written and oral testimonies from all parties, the CAS set aside the Judicial Committee’s decision.
After months of uncertainty, the official results of the FEI Endurance World Championship, held in Dubai on 27 January 2005 were finalised as follows:
Individual Classification
Gold: Barbara Lissarague (FRA) / Georgeat
Silver: HH Sheikh Mohammedd bin Rashid Al Maktoum (UAE) / Nashmi
Bronze: HE Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan (UAE) / Mindari Aenzac
The team classification remained unchanged.
References:
FEI press release, 2 May 2005 – Legal Update: FEI World Endurance Championship. FEI Judicial Committee dismisses positive medication case of gold medallist.
FEI press release, 1 June 2005 – Legal Update: World Endurance Championship. Appeal against the decision of the FEI Judicial Committee.
FEI press release, 9 March 2006 – CAS issues decision in 2005 FEI World Endurance Champiomship matter. Barbara Lissarague (FRA) is awarded World title.
FEI press release, 28 April 2006 – Sheikh Hazza bin Sultan al Nahyan (UAE) files an appeal.
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