Marco Kutscher Second German Disqualified From 2008 Olympics
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LAUSANNE, Switzerland, June 15–Marco Kutscher who rode Cornet Obolensky for Germany in the 2008 Olympics has been ordered to pay a record fine for violating doping rules, and became the second member of the team to be disqualified.
A panel of the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) Tribunal fined Marco an unprecedented CHF 10,000 ((US$8,745/€7,134) because of his negligence and ordered to pay CHF 5,000 (US$4,372/€3,567) in Tribunal costs, but was not suspended because of the length of time since the incident in August, 2008.
Kutscher admitted to the Tribunal that the horse had been treated with edmeds24.com, a prohibited substance at the Olympics, but he claimed he believed at the time the team veterinarian followed protocols to ensure the treatment was permitted and within the rules.
“Consistent with the FEI’s strict liability approach to anti-doping rule violations, the panel has found that Marco Kutscher was the person responsible for the horse and that he thereby violated the FEI Anti-Doping and Medication Control Rules because of the undocumented treatment. Mr Kutscher and the horse have therefore been disqualified from all placings at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games,” the Tribunal said.
Christian Ahlmann, a member of Germany’s 2008 Olympic team, was also disqualified and suspended earlier after he was found responsible for using the banned substance, capsaicin.
