Lausanne (SUI), 10 April 2015 – Analysis of the B sample from Bingo S, a borrowed horse ridden by Maxime Livio (FRA) at a Jumping event in Thailand last November, has failed to confirm the initial positive result.

The A sample taken from the gelding at the CSI1*-W in Pattaya (28-20 November 2014) tested positive for the banned substance Testosterone, but confirmatory analysis on the B sample conducted has not upheld the original result.

Testosterone, a naturally occurring hormone found in high levels in stallions and considerably reduced levels in geldings and mares, is one of seven threshold substances on the FEI Equine Prohibited Substances List. The B sample analysis for Bingo S confirmed the presence of Testosterone, but not within the threshold level applicable for geldings.

Livio, who has been provisionally suspended since the date of notification of the positive on 16 February 2015, has now been cleared to compete. The horse, which was on a two-month suspension due to expire on 15 April, has also been reinstated for competition and the case has been dropped by the FEI.

“It is rare that the B sample doesn’t confirm the A sample, but it proves that our system works and that the checks and balances put in place to protect the athlete function correctly,” FEI Secretary General Sabrina Zeender said.

“As with all other sports and as part of an in-built safety mechanism, the athlete has the right to request confirmatory analysis of the B sample. As this has returned a negative result in this instance, the case against Maxime Livio is dropped.”

A separate, earlier case involving Maxime Livio, whose horse Qalao des Mers tested positive for a metabolite of the Controlled Medication substance Acepromazine at the FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Normandy (FRA) on 29 August, is ongoing.

Analysis of all equine samples is conducted at one of the five FEI approved laboratories which are fully in compliance with FEI standards. A list of the FEI approved laboratories is available here.

Under a new rule introduced in 2010, the athlete or Person Responsible can request that analysis of the B sample is conducted at a different FEI accredited laboratory. Prior to that, confirmatory analysis of the B sample could be conducted at the same laboratory that tested the A sample.

Threshold Substances
Information on the seven threshold substances on the FEI Equine Prohibited Substances List is available here.

FEI Media Contacts:

Grania Willis
Director Media Relations
Grania.willis@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 42

Ruth Grundy
Manager Press Relations
ruth.grundy@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 45