There is unanimous agreement the World Championships 2023 were a great event, in a perfect area, well organised, welcoming and supported by very helpful and friendly volunteers. Unfortunately, there is also an unpleasant point which needs to be mentioned.
During the World Championships random doping tests were carried out among the sport and breeding horses according to FEI Equine Anti-Doping rules. The FEI approved laboratory, Laboratoire des Courses Hippiques, which tested the collected samples reported an Adverse Analytical Finding of Triamcinolone Acetonide, a Corticosteroid, in the blood sample collected from Felix från Änghaga after the T1 Preliminary on August 11, 2023.
Because this is a first offense and the Adverse Analytical Finding involves a single Controlled Medication Substance, the rider, Vignir Jónasson, chose to have this matter processed under the “Administrative Procedure” (EAD Rules Article 8.3.1). According to the FEI rules, this means a disqualification of the rider/horse combination from the World Championships including forfeiture of marks and prizes. New result lists will be published later this week.
Mr. Jónasson was completely cooperative with the procedure. He provided FEIF with a credible explanation of why the controlled medication was used. Based on the information provided, FEIF concludes the medication was used appropriately but not given enough time to fully metabolize before the World Championships. There is no suspension period for either Mr. Jónasson nor his horse. This Controlled Substances violation does not count toward multiple violations in the future as described in EAD Rules Article 10.9.