Rodrigo Pessoa’s Olympic Mount Tests Positive

The FEI has received notification of an additional and final doping/medication case at the 2008 Olympic Games involving rider Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA) and his horse Rufus. A test carried out on the horse following the individual final revealed an A sample that tested positive for the banned substance nonivamide, part of the capsaicinoid family and classified as a doping prohibited substance given its hypersensitizing properties, and as a Â« medication class A prohibited substance for its pain relieving properties.

The sample was received by the laboratory on Saturday August 23 following the individual Jumping Final in which Rodrigo Pessoa and Rufus placed fifth. A preliminary hearing was held by teleconference at 17h00 on August 28 before a member of the FEI Tribunal and the suspension was confirmed on August 29.

The B sample test is scheduled for Tuesday September 2 in Hong Kong.

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Should the B sample confirm the findings of the A sample the process will follow the Accelerated Medication Control Procedure during & after the 2008 Olympic Games which is part of the FEI Regulations for Equestrian events at the 2008 Olympic Games (Annex G), available on FEI Olympic website.

Evidence and written submissions will be requested and a hearing will be held before the FEI Tribunal. However it is up to the Person Responsible whether or not they wish to exercise or waive their right to be heard. The panel will then, in light of all the evidence received, take a decision as to the applicable sanction if any.

An update will be provided by the FEI following the result of the B sample and subsequently further updates regarding the hearing and final decision.

The competition results will be amended as indicated in the Tribunalâ€™s final decision.

In terms of testing at the 2008 Olympic Games, all results have now been received, and there are no remaining cases to be reported.