SEPTEMBER 2011 THE RIDER/ 5 Suspension
FEI Investigation of a Canadian Equestrian Drug Testing Sample
Ottawa, ON—Equine Canada has been advised by the Fédération Équestre Interna- tionale (FEI) that it is investigating a sample from Canadian athlete Jonathon Millar, taken during a routine competition drug test. Article 14.2 of the FEI’s Anti-Doping Rules for Human Athletes prohibit national equestrian federations from publicly com- menting on the specific facts of a pending case, beyond matters of general process and science.
As is the FEI’s standard process, Mr. Millar has been placed on a provisional sus- pension while this matter is under investiga- tion. He will participate in a provisional FEI hearing at a date to be set shortly.
Timothy Danson, the lawyer for the Mil- lar family issued press release stating that “Jonathon has been bravely battling a serious medical condition as a result of his body’s inability to produce a certain essential hor- mone which our bodies normally and natural- ly produce. He suffers from a metabolic defi- ciency. As a result, any drug test would be abnormal. As a family we have been giving Jonathon all the support and encouragement that you would expect from a close family such as ours, to give him the strength and hope to overcome this illness. We are extremely proud of how Jonathon has looked adversity in the eye and worked tirelessly to overcome this adversity rather than surrender to it.”
The release goes on to say “We are cur- rently waiting for the necessary documenta- tion to assist us in understanding the current problem, and as a result we will not be mak- ing any further comment at this time other than to state emphatically, that this has abso- lutely nothing to do with performance enhancement, cheating or illegal substances, but rather is directly related to Jonathon’s ill- ness and metabolic deficiency.”
“Jonathon is one of the gentlemen of our sport, and he has been co-operating fully with us,” said Akaash Maharaj, Chief Executive Officer of Equine Canada and the Canadian Equestrian Team. “Our first responsibility is to protect the integrity of the sport system, by upholding both the WADA code and the ath- lete’s right to a fair and impartial hearing. Accordingly, we are working closely with Jonathon and with the FEI to ensure that all the facts are made available during the hear- ings, to bring this matter to a just conclusion without delay.”
About Equine Canada
Equine Canada is Canada’s national governing body for equestrianism. A mem- ber-driven, charitable institution, it is the executive branch of the Canadian Equestrian Team, and the national authority for equestri- an competition; the national voice for recre- ational riders; and the national association for equine welfare, breeding, and industry. Equine Canada is recognised by the Govern- ment of Canada, the International Equestrian Federation (FEI), and the Canadian Olympic Committee as the national organisation repre- senting equestrian sport and equine interests. For more information about Equine Canada, please visit
www.equinecanada.ca.
Centre Line Equestrian held a Dressage Clinic with FEI rider and trainer Jon Costin on August 20th. Pictured: Susan Leparskis with Tyler, Jon Costin, and Heather Warner with Darling. Photo by The Rider.
Jonathon Millar Under
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