Dressage-News

LAUSANNE, Switzerland, Aug. 27, 2016–All Olympic human and horse samples taken during the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro this month were all negative, the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) reported Saturday, for the second straight Games.

A total of 60 equine samples–30 per cent of the 200 competing horses–were tested during the Games and samples sent to the FEI’s Central Laboratory in Newmarket, England. The final batch of results were returned to FEI Headquarters this week.

Human testing, which is conducted by the International Olympic Committee, during the Olympics, also returned 100 per cent negatives for the equestrian athletes that were sampled, FEI President Ingmar De Vos said.

“Keeping our sport clean is a central part of our daily work at the FEI, but to have back-to-back clean Games in London and Rio is something for any sport to be proud of,” Ingmar said, “especially as we were testing for more substances than ever before.”

All individual medalists’ horses were tested, plus all fourth-placed horses. Additionally, at least one horse was tested from medal-winning and fourth-placed teams. Random testing was also carried out, with horses being picked by computerized selection, and there was also targeted testing.

For human testing across the Games, all top four finishers, plus two other athletes selected at random, were tested by the IOC, along with other individuals selected at random.