French athlete handed six-month ban for doping
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)
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.
Veterinary practices are being urged to help owners safely dispose of any unused and expired pet medicines - not just antibiotics - during November's Animal Medicines Amnesty. 
