Home Ethics Contemporary Issues Equestrian Federation Confirms All Rio 2016 Doping Samples Came Back Negative

Equestrian Federation Confirms All Rio 2016 Doping Samples Came Back Negative

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The International Equestrian Federation (FEI) has announced that all doping samples taken from riders and horses at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games returned negative.

Sixty equine samples were taken in the Brazilian city – equating to 30 per cent of the 200 competing horses – with no adverse results found after analysis at the FEI’s Central Laboratory in Newmarket in England.

This is one of the five FEI approved laboratories in the world, while samples from riders were tested by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in Rio itself.

It is the second successive Olympic Games to produce completely clean samples after London 2012.

FEI President Ingmar De Vos said that the news, coupled with the “incredible” sporting action in the Brazilian city, gave him double cause for celebration.

“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, especially as we were testing for more substances than ever before,” said the Belgian. “And that’s on top of absolutely brilliant equestrian sport in Rio, so we really have something to celebrate.”

Individual and team medals were awarded in dressage, jumping and eventing at the Olympics.

In February, De Vos expressed fears about construction progress at the Rio equestrian venue but he reserved praise for organisers, despite empty seats removing some of the gloss from the events.

“The sport in Rio was just incredible,” De Vos said. “We owe a huge debt of thanks to the Rio 2016 Organising Committee. They were working in very challenging circumstances, but they produced a fabulous venue that provided the perfect stage for our equestrian events, and which will be ideal for the Paralympics as well. We couldn’t have asked for more exciting sport and now to have confirmation that clean sport and fair play have also come out as winners is the icing on the cake.

“I couldn’t be happier.”

Republished with permission from insidethegames.biz

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