Top Guatemalan show jumper Alvaro Enrique Tejada Arriola has been suspended for 12 months after his horse Dolly Pala Blanco tested positive to a banned vasodilator, Diisopropylamine, on July 29th at the Central American and Caribbean Games in Bogota.

Veterinarian Dr Mariajose Camas Orantes admitted administering the drug without the rider’s presence or knowledge, intending to assist the horse which was tiring in the high altitude. But while the FEI Tribunal accepted this happened without Tejada Arriola’s knowledge and he thus bore “no significant fault,” riders remain responsible for the actions of all parties handling their horse.

Last November, the FEI Tribunal removed Tejada Arriola’s individual bronze from the event after his horse tested positive on the final day of competition. But in an unusual twist, Tribunal decided Guatemala would keep its team bronze because Dolly Pala Blanco tested clean immediately after the team contest on July 26th.

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