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Sheikh Hazza's doping suspension reduced
horse
Sheikh Hazza challenged FEI's principle of strict liability. (stock photo)
Appeal challenged FEI's strict liability principle

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has reduced a suspension imposed on Sheikh Hazza after a horse he rode tested positive for a banned substance in 2012.

Last year, HH Sheikh Hazza Bin Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan (United Arab Emirates) lodged an appeal against the FEI Tribunal's decision to disqualify and suspend him.

FEI is the international olympic equestrian governing body.

The sheikh challenged FEI's principle of strict liability which means that if a horse tests positive for a banned substance, the rider is held as the 'person responsible' and receives an automatic ban and disqualification, unless they can prove the substance got into the horse's system through no fault or negligence of the athlete.

Sheikh Hazza rode the horse Glenmorgan on 11 February 2012, winning the CE13 in Al Wathba, UAE.

Glenmorgan tested positive for propoxyphene, an opiate analgesic classified as a banned substance under FEI regulations, and its metabolite norpropoxyphene.

As the rider and person responsible, the sheikh was disqualified and suspended by the FEI Tribunal, which took into account a previous rule violation in 2005.

Following this he conducted investigations to determine the source of the doping from mid-June, 2012 to late February, 2014 and lodged an appeal against the tribunal's final decision with the CAS.

CAS rejected the sheikh's argument that making the rider the person responsible is "an unnecessary and/or disproportionate interference with fundamental rights, and so unlawful and therefore outside the powers of the FEI".

However, the CAS took into account the systems put in place by Sheikh Hazza to avoid inadvertent doping. It was decided therefore that his fault was "not significant" and the suspension was reduced from 27 months to 18. The sheikh's disqualification from the event still stands, however.

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Birmingham Dogs Home makes urgent appeal

News Story 1
 Birmingham Dogs Home has issued an urgent winter appeal as it faces more challenges over the Christmas period.

The rescue centre has seen a dramatic increase in dogs coming into its care, and is currently caring for over 200 dogs. With rising costs and dropping temperatures, the charity is calling for urgent support.

It costs the charity £6,000 per day to continue its work.

Fi Harrison, head of fundraising and communications, said: "It's heart-breaking for our team to see the conditions some dogs arrive in. We really are their last chance and hope of survival."

More information about the appeal can be found here. 

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News Shorts
Avian flu confirmed at premises in Cornwall

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in commercial poultry at a premises near Rosudgeon, Cornwall.

All poultry on the infected site will be humanely culled, and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been put in place. Poultry and other captive birds in the 3km protection zone must be housed.

The case is the second avian flu case confirmed in commercial poultry this month. The H5N5 strain was detected in a premises near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, in early November. Before then, the disease had not been confirmed in captive birds in England since February.

The UK chief veterinary officer has urged bird keepers to remain alert and practise robust biosecurity.

A map of the disease control zones can be found here.