Lynch says no point in appealing suspension

SHOW JUMPING: DENIS LYNCH says he will not be appealing the three-month suspension given by the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) tribunal yesterday. In announcing its decision, the tribunal also fined the Germany-based rider €1,142 and has ordered him to pay €1,305 towards costs.

The 32-year-old's suspension began on August 21st, when he was stopped from competing in the final round of the individual show jumping at the Olympic Games in Hong Kong. It will finish on November 21st.

"With the FEI taking nearly two months to announce its decision, there seems little point me now appealing it," Lynch said.

"I just want to get back in the ring and I feel the best way that I can thank my family, friends and my owner, Thomas Fruhmann, for their support over the past number of weeks is to start winning again. Before I do, however, I will go back home to thank people personally."

Lynch was immediately suspended from competition when his mount, Lantinus, and three other horses, tested positive to the banned substance capsaicin at the Games.

In arriving at its decision, the FEI tribunal took into account the Tipperary-born rider's good record, the hardship he had already suffered and that, on the day he was suspended, he had immediately identified the product which proved to be the source of the prohibited substance.

The tribunal members also stated that capsaicin is "a newly detectable substance which is often used by riders for legitimate therapeutic reasons".

Brazil's Bernardo Alves, whose horse Chupa Chup also tested positive to capsaicin at the same time, was last week given a three-and-a-half- month suspension (finishing on December 3rd). His compatriot, Rodrigo Pessoa, whose Rufus was later found to have tested positive to nonivamide, similarly newly detectable, was banned for four-and-a-half months, his suspension running from August 29th to January 10th.

Upon learning of yesterday's announcement, Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) chairman Joe Walsh said the expert group established by the board of HSI to advise on the eradication of prohibited substances and practices from Irish equestrianism would take the details of the FEI decision into account when issuing their recommendations to the board.

"This group has met already under the chairmanship of Dr Gordon Holmes," revealed Walsh, "and I expect them to report before year end. Horse Sport Ireland will implement all of their recommendations rigorously."

Walsh also said that the group would also be advertising for submissions from interested parties and members of the public in the coming days. "As the new governing body for the sport, I want to assure people that we will be relentless in dealing with this issue," he said.

This weekend Lynch should be competing at the lucrative Global Champions' Tour final in Sao Paolo, where Jessica Kuerten is now the sole Irish representative. On Thursday evening, she finished second in the 1.60m speed class on Lady Georgina Forbes's 12-year-old mare Castle Forbes Libertina, being narrowly beaten by the Belgian partnership of Ludo Philippaerts and Cavalor's Winningmood.

Yesterday, Capt Shane Carey saw off 58 rivals to win the 1.45m jump-off class at Saint Lo, France, on the Cavalier Royale gelding River Foyle.

At eventing's world breeding event championships in Le Lion d'Angers, Sam Watson is best of the Irish contingent following the completion of the dressage phase. Watson and the Irish Sport Horse gelding Marlboro Man are lying 13th in the one-star class for six-year-olds on a score of 49.50 penalties. Britain's William Fox-Pitt is leading on a mark of 36.40 with the Selle Francais gelding Oslo.