Jock Paget and Clifton Promise at Badminton. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Jock Paget and Kevin McNabb participated in an FEI tribunal in London on Tuesday, where the fate of their cases would be decided. The tribunal, which was closed to the press, took up the entire day, beginning at 9 am and ending after 6 pm that evening. Neither party would comment after the tribunal let out that evening.
Today, the FEI has released a statement saying that the provisional suspensions from competition for both Jock and Kevin have been lifted, effective immediately. Both riders had been serving the suspensions from competition after their horses tested positive for the banned substance, Reserpine, following competition at Burghley in 2013.
Jock has been stripped of his winner’s title from Burghley due to the positive test, while Kevin has retained his result for the time being.
The FEI said in a statement:
“The FEI Tribunal has today lifted the provisional suspensions of Jonathan Paget (NZL) and Kevin McNab (AUS) with immediate effect. The two athletes had been provisionally suspended following positive tests on their horses, Clifton Promise and Clifton Pinot, for the banned substance Reserpine at Burghley (GBR) in September 2013.
The decision follows a specific request from the two athletes for the lifting of the provisional suspensions. The request was made during a two-day hearing before the FEI Tribunal in London (GBR) on 3 and 4 June.
The lifting of the provisional suspensions is a preliminary decision. The FEI Tribunal’s Final Decision in both cases will be issued at a later date.”
This is not a final decision from the FEI, as the riders are still at risk to receive up to a two year ban from the sport. The final decision will be released later on. We will provide more information as it becomes available.
Timeline of the Reserpine Controversy:
June 2: Jock Paget’s FEI Tribunal Hearing Begins Tomorrow
April 23: Jock Paget Loses Burghley Title in Partial FEI Tribunal Decision
March 3: Jock Paget Expected to Appear Before FEI Tribunal in Late April, Early May
Dec. 2: Clifton Pinot’s B Sample Also Positive For Reserpine
Nov. 26: Positive B Sample Result from Clifton Promise
Nov. 19: Jock Paget: ‘I’m Not a Doper’
Oct. 30: Paget, McNab Lawyer Up While Awaiting ‘B’ Sample Results
Oct. 21: Clifton Eventers Stands Behind Jock Paget, Kevin McNab
Oct. 16: Frances Stead Speaks Out in Radio Interview
Oct. 15: Jock Paget Reacts to Drug Test Results
Oct. 15: Badminton & Burghley Winner Clifton Promise Tests Positive for Banned Substance
