Qatar has lost its team jumping place at Tokyo, amid allegations of sabotage by Morocco who now obtain the Olympic place.

Qatar team members Sheikh Ali Al Thani and Bassem Mohammed tested positive to Carboxy-THC (Cannabis metabolite.) They claimed that the supposedly harmless shisha [a pipe for smoking flavoured tobacco which passes the smoke through water] smoked while competing at the Olympic qualifying show in Rabat last fall (October 10-13) must have been “spiked” by rivals. A criminal complaint has been lodged with the Moroccan authorities.

The FEI Tribunal today (February 17) published a partial decision confirming Qatar’s disqualification from Tokyo and awarding the Middle East and Africa regional team place to the next best placed team, Morocco.

Advertisement