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French athlete handed six-month ban for doping
eventing
Livio and the French eventing team lost their slot in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games after the horse tested positive for a banned substance. (stock image)
Sanctions follow failed drugs test

French eventer Maxime Livio has been handed a fine and banned for six months after horse Qalao des Mers tested positive for a controlled medication substance.

A sample taken from the horse on 29 August last year tested positive for hydroxyethylpromazine sulfoxide, which is a metabolite of acepromazine.

After the findings were revealed last month, Livio and the French eventing team were disqualified from the FEI World Equestrian Games 2014. As a result, France lost its slot in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

As well as a six-month ban on Livio, which came into effect on 7 May, the FEI Tribunal ordered the athlete to pay CHF 2,500 in addition to covering the costs of the B sample analysis and contributing to the judicial procedure costs.

Acepromazine is a controlled medication substance on the FEI prohibited substances list. The list comprises substances that are regularly used to treat horses but are prohibited in competitions to maintain a level playing field.

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Reporting service for dead wild birds updated

News Story 1
 The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has updated its online reporting service for dead wild birds.

The new version allows those reporting a dead bird to drop a pin on a map when reporting the location. It also includes a wider range of wild bird species groups to select from when describing the bird.

The online service, which helps APHA to monitor the spread of diseases such as avian influenza, can be accessed here

Click here for more...
News Shorts
NI chief vet urges bluetongue vigilance

Northern Ireland's chief veterinary officer (CVO) has urged farmers to be vigilant for signs of bluetongue, after the Animal and Plant Health Agency warned there was a very high probability of further cases in Great Britain.

There have been 126 confirmed cases of bluetongue virus serotype 3 in England since November 2023, with no cases reported in Northern Ireland. The movement of live ruminants from Great Britain to Northern Ireland is currently suspended.

According to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), the virus is most likely to enter Northern Ireland through infected animals or germplasm (semen or ova) being imported.

Brian Dooher, Northern Ireland's CVO, said: "Surveillance for this disease within Northern Ireland has been increased to assist with detection at the earliest opportunity which will facilitate more effective control measures."

Farmers should report any suspicions of the disease to their private veterinary practitioner, the DAERA Helpline on 0300 200 7840 or their local DAERA Direct Veterinary Office.