Tine Magnus and Dia van het Lichterveld Z. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
A recent FEI Tribunal decision surrounding an equine anti-doping case with Belgian Olympic eventer Tine Magnus and her horse, Dia Van Het Lichterveld Z, resulted in the tracing of the substance in question, trazadone, to the supplement Relax Pro – Global Medics – Equine Care Group. Tine has denied the allegations from the outset and vowed to investigate the matter alongside her team. A provisional suspension was issued by the FEI pending a Tribunal outcome, which was made formal in February of 2025.
“The athlete was able to trace the source of the Banned Substance in the horse’s system back to the supplement RELAX PRO – Global Medics – Equine Care Group,” a statement from the FEI released in February reads. “This finding was based on an independent analysis requested by the athlete from two highly recognized toxicologists. This contamination hence accounted for the positive finding in the horse, and the athlete had clearly established on a balance of probabilities, how the Banned Substance Trazodone entered the horse’s system. Consequently, the FEI and the athlete entered into a Settlement Agreement.”
The settlement amounted to a total of five months of suspension from the original date (September 3, 2024), ending on February 3, 2025. Tine was also fined CHF 4,000 (approximately $4,412 USD). The Belgian team, which finished fourth in Paris, as well as Tine’s individual placing, will remain disqualified as a result of the positive test.
In the wake of this decision and subsequent settlement, the manufacturers of Relax Pro have released the following statement. It is printed in full below:
It was recently announced that a batch of Relax Pro contaminated with Trazodone led to a positive doping test for the horse Dia van het Lichterveld Z, ridden by Belgian eventing athlete Tine Magnus during the Olympic Games in Paris.
We deeply regret this incident—for Tine Magnus, for the entire Belgian eventing team, and for the equestrian sport as a whole. This is not a case of deliberate doping aimed at enhancing performance but rather an unfortunate case of contamination. As soon as thorough research confirmed that a batch of Relax Pro contained traces of Trazodone, Global Medics transparently communicated this objective information on its official website, pending further in-depth investigation.
Immediate Measures Taken
Although this situation is beyond our control, we take it extremely seriously and have taken immediate responsibility by implementing the following measures:
• As a precaution, the affected batches (24D02CA en CA/23J31) were immediately withdrawn from the market. If you, as an end user, still have Relax Pro in your possession with the mentioned batch numbers, please contact Global Medics immediately regarding the product return. We emphasize that at no point was there any risk to equine health, as this was an accidental contamination with an extremely low concentration and thus a clinically irrelevant dose of Trazodone. We can also confirm with certainty that all newly produced products are completely free of this contamination.
• Our production is outsourced to the external manufacturer UTB, while Global Medics focuses on product development, innovation, and distribution. UTB is a respected Belgian producer of nutritional supplements for both human and veterinary use, supplying not only Global Medics but also numerous other equine supplement distributors.
• Global Medics has appointed a legal expert to conduct an objective and legally sound investigation into the exact origin of the contamination in the specific batch of Relax Pro. Current findings indicate that the contamination occurred at the production level, resulting from a contaminated magnesium raw material sourced from Spain. This tainted magnesium, used by UTB in the production of Relax Pro, contained traces of Trazodone. Investigations are still ongoing to determine exactly how this occurred.
Commitment to Quality and Safety
For nearly 30 years, Global Medics has been committed to providing high-quality supplements to support equine health, with a worldwide distribution network. Throughout these three decades, this is the first time we have faced a positive doping test.
While Tine Magnus is undoubtedly the greatest victim of this situation, Global Medics has also suffered significant reputational and business damage. We emphatically state that Trazodone was never intentionally added to our products, contrary to some insinuations in equestrian media and on social platforms. This contamination occurred entirely outside of our control, at the raw material supplier level.
A Broader Issue in the Industry
This incident raises an important question: how can supplement distributors and riders protect themselves from unforeseen contaminations of this nature? It is concerning and disappointing that, in such crisis situations, there is not more unity and understanding within the industry to support Tine Magnus and collectively seek solutions for the future.
We remain fully committed to transparency, innovation, and the highest standards of quality.
In the meantime, we are allowing the experts to complete their investigation, and once the legal inquiry is concluded, we will share the full, objective story.
