FEI Issues Record Ban and $47,000 Fine for Endurance Doping Offence

Rider-trainer Rafea Alamri used a cocktail of drugs associated with abuse in endurance by masking unsoundness and lowering the heart rate.

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By: Pippa Cuckson | July 5, 2021

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you're listening to an article from horse sport.com. fei issues record ban and $47,000 fine for endurance doping offence by: pippa cuckson |. a saudi arabian endurance trainer-rider has been handed a record 7½-year ban and 35,000 swiss franc ($ can 47,000) fine by the fei tribunal for three separate doping offences over a 12-month period. two of rafea alamri’s offences occurred at saudi arabia’s new showcase endurance venue al ula in february 2019 and february 2020. they involved drugs described by the fei as misused in endurance to mask unsoundness and lower heart-rates to get horses through the veterinary inspections. the tribunal heard that, each time, alamri was aware of the previous positives before he tried to enter further fei rides. because he tried to compete while provisionally suspended for the first offence, alamri was not credited with his “time-served” as is the norm, so his period of ineligibility begins on the date of the tribunal decision, june 24, 2021, grounding him through december 23, 2028. until now, the longest suspension applied by the fei for an equine anti-doping offence is four years. advertisement scroll to continue with content at al ula 2019, the horse walfan tested positive for banned reserpine and heptaminol and the controlled medications phenylbutazone and its metabolite oxyphenbutazone. alamri was walfan’s rider that day, as well as being his registered trainer. both alamri and walfan were provisionally suspended from march 4 2019, but five days later alamri as trainer tried to start walfan at al qaseem with rider ali alhashem. they were prevented, but taken for sampling where walfan again tested positive for phenylbutazone and oxyphenbutazone. another horse, ankor class, of which alamri was the registered trainer, tested positive for phenylbutazone and oxyphenbutazone at al ula 2020. he was ridden by alhashem, who has been suspended six months for his role in these incidents. in anti-doping law, offenders have to explain how the substances entered the horses’ body in order to be considered for any reduced suspension. alamri initially claimed that he was “not aware of the medicines since the pharmacies gave him new medicines and that he was new to this type of competition, as was the horse.” he did not attempt to explain or defend the subsequent positives. the fei said the combination of medications was uncommon, not normally associated with legitimate medical treatment and may have been intentional. the fei said reserpine is a long-acting sedative with reported side effects including hypotension, reduced heart rate, increased gastrointestinal motility, and diarrhea. it has high potential for abuse – to keep horses calm so they can be ridden/handled safely or (in endurance) to keep their heart rates down. heptaminol dilates blood vessels and is suggested for treating low blood pressure in humans. the fei said “it seems to be abused in horses in a belief to stop a condition called ‘tying up’ which horses can be eliminated for in endurance, or as a heart stimulant.” phenylbutazone is an anti inflammatory with analgesic effects. it is sometimes abused to mask any pain/lameness that is already present before the horse starts a ride, or at the first horse inspection. the fei also argued that in endurance, trainers are the “decision-makers,” and so it was “impossible” to claim that a “cocktail” of prohibited substances was administered, even through neglect, without a trainer’s knowledge. much of the 37-page decision notice discusses the delay bringing each case to justice and the length of suspensions that might have applied cumulatively, had each case been decided separately.

A Saudi Arabian endurance trainer-rider has been handed a record 7½-year ban and 35,000 Swiss Franc ($ CAN 47,000) fine by the FEI Tribunal for three separate doping offences over a 12-month period.

Two of Rafea Alamri’s offences occurred at Saudi Arabia’s new showcase endurance venue Al Ula in February 2019 and February 2020. They involved drugs described by the FEI as misused in endurance to mask unsoundness and lower heart-rates to get horses through the veterinary inspections.

The Tribunal heard that, each time, Alamri was aware of the previous positives before he tried to enter further FEI rides. Because he tried to compete while provisionally suspended for the first offence, Alamri was not credited with his “time-served” as is the norm, so his period of ineligibility begins on the date of the Tribunal decision, June 24, 2021, grounding him through December 23, 2028. Until now, the longest suspension applied by the FEI for an equine anti-doping offence is four years.

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At Al Ula 2019, the horse Walfan tested positive for banned Reserpine and Heptaminol and the controlled medications Phenylbutazone and its metabolite Oxyphenbutazone. Alamri was Walfan’s rider that day, as well as being his registered trainer.

Both Alamri and Walfan were provisionally suspended from March 4 2019, but five days later Alamri as trainer tried to start Walfan at Al Qaseem with rider Ali Alhashem. They were prevented, but taken for sampling where Walfan again tested positive for Phenylbutazone and Oxyphenbutazone.

Another horse, Ankor Class, of which Alamri was the registered trainer, tested positive for Phenylbutazone and Oxyphenbutazone at Al Ula 2020. He was ridden by Alhashem, who has been suspended six months for his role in these incidents.

In anti-doping law, offenders have to explain how the substances entered the horses’ body in order to be considered for any reduced suspension. Alamri initially claimed that he was “not aware of the medicines since the pharmacies gave him new medicines and that he was new to this type of competition, as was the horse.” He did not attempt to explain or defend the subsequent positives.

The FEI said the combination of medications was uncommon, not normally associated with legitimate medical treatment and may have been intentional. The FEI said Reserpine is a long-acting sedative with reported side effects including hypotension, reduced heart rate, increased gastrointestinal motility, and diarrhea. It has high potential for abuse – to keep horses calm so they can be ridden/handled safely or (in endurance) to keep their heart rates down.

Heptaminol dilates blood vessels and is suggested for treating low blood pressure in humans. The FEi said “it seems to be abused in horses in a belief to stop a condition called ‘tying up’ which horses can be eliminated for in endurance, or as a heart stimulant.” Phenylbutazone is an anti inflammatory with analgesic effects. It is sometimes abused to mask any pain/lameness that is already present before the horse starts a ride, or at the first horse inspection.

The FEI also argued that in endurance, trainers are the “decision-makers,” and so it was “impossible” to claim that a “cocktail” of prohibited substances was administered, even through neglect, without a trainer’s knowledge.

Much of the 37-page decision notice discusses the delay bringing each case to justice and the length of suspensions that might have applied cumulatively, had each case been decided separately.