Olympics fallout continues

By Michael Slavin

The fallout from the failed drugs test at the Olympic Games in Hong Hong continued this week with the Olympic Council of Ireland (OCI) issuing a stern rebuke to Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) in the same week that Denis Lynch had his hearing before the Fédération Équestre International (FEI) in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Over the weekend it was reported that the OCI's Chef de Mission at the Games, Dermot Henihan, had sent a very strongly worded letter to HSI Chairman Joe Walsh and Chief Executive Damian McDonald which was highly critical of HSI's handling of the whole Hong Kong affair. The Olympic Council is in the happy position of having someone they feel they can apportion blame to for this blot on Ireland's Olympic record. HSI has no such luxury and Henihan is pulling no punches in indicating that the buck stops with them. In advance of a planned meeting between the two bodies, he is asking for explanations as to how matters went so wrong in the first place. At this meeting, the Olympic Council will be looking for a "detailed and comprehensive" report in the issue.

The OCI is sore about the fact that both Minister for Sport Martin Cullen and OCI President Pat Hickey travelled from Beijing to Hong Kong for the show jumping final only to be greeted by media questions over the failed drug test, about which the OCI claim they had to wait several hours for any solid information. It must be noted that Minister Cullen has, since the failed drugs test, stated his support of equestrianism in the Olympic Games.

When contacted, Damien McDonald confirmed that he had received the letter from OCI "before lunch-time on Friday" last. He does not wish, at this time, to make any further comment on this issue. Questions need to be asked as to how the letter was circulated to the media before either Joe Walsh or Damien McDonald had read it. The contents of this letter contain no more information than is already in the public domain and seems to be in essence a continuation of the public row between the two bodies, initiated by Pat Hickey, President of the Olympic Council of Ireland, in the immediate aftermath of the failed drugs test. Is this the most constructive way that the OCI and HSI can conduct this matter?

Meanwhile in Lausanne on Saturday last, Denis Lynch had his preliminary hearing before an FEI tribunal on Lantinus's failed drugs test. Afterwards, he said: "I was able to put my case [forward] and I believe I received a fair hearing."

A provisional decision has been given on the matter in advance of a full hearing planned for the end of this month. Last Monday afternoon, the following statement was issued by the HSI on the FEI decision concerning Denis Lynch: "HSI has been informed by the world governing body, the FEI, that show jumper Denis Lynch will remain under provisional suspension from international competition until the final decision on the medication case involving his horse Lantinus is issued by the FEI tribunal."

The tribunal indicated that it expects to issue a final decision by 30 September, and has also indicated a timeline that allows for additional correspondence between the parties, including deadlines for additional statements and pleadings. Denis Lynch was automatically suspended by the FEI following a positive medication test on Lantinus on 21 August 2008 during the Olympic Games.