[RC] WEC: update - John TeeterThere was a brief announcement from the home of HE Sh Hazza bin Sultan Al Nahyan today. (1) Basically, if there was an issue with prohibited substances, then so be it and there will certainly be no difficulty if the proper FEI procedures are followed. Further, the determination not to follow FEI protocols was made 10 minutes prior to the presentation of the completion awards last evening. The riders and horses had gathered in preparation of entering the arena. They were then informed of the disqualification of the gold medal individual winners. HE Sh Hazza bin Sultan Al Nahyan felt that such a deviation from standard FEI protocol was rude and unnecessary. A protest of the decision to deviate from FEI procedures governing the WEC is being considered. ====== We also understand that the blood sample which first tested positive to an, as yet unspecified, banned performance enhancing substance has been sent to a lab in Switzerland for the prescribed second test. We have not been in formed by FEI officials of anything with regards to these events. So there's your update from the WEC finish line. Teams are dispersing today, flying back to their various homelands. The horses are set to travel so as well also. (Steph is at the Argentine barn receiving final instruction for shipping as she will help to manage this end of it. Bev Grey's Paladin will be staying here an additional 4 weeks before transport home. The Canadian horses are flying to New York and then will take an exceedingly long trip to the west by horse van. The part of the competition which relates most to the endurance community is almost over. Thoughts begin to focus on the next set of major events (Gulf Coast Championship on 12 Feb in Qatar; The Pan American championships in Pinomar Argentina on 14 April; and the European Championships later in the summer (in Britian I think - but right now it's 2Duram/min to be on the net on a phone connection - that's $40/hr - so looking for the actual dates isn't going to happen...) The officialdom of the FEI and the OC of the 2004 World Endurance Championships in Dubia will still be trying to figure out the resolution of the final placements of the individual riders for the next period of time. We REALLY hope that FEI will step forward and provide a clear picture of the process and the outcome of this Championship Event. More as it percolates .... johnt =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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