The CAS (Court Arbitration for Sport) has lifted the 20-year suspension imposed by the FEI on Sh Abdul Aziz Bin Faisal Al Quasimi. Quasimi's horse died after a fatal fracture during the CE1 * in Fontainbleau in 2016.
Various types of doping were found during the blood test, including Xylazine, muscle relaxants, pain killers and anesthetics. The FEI regulations prohibit these drugs, the horse's rider claimed it had been used when the horse was put to sleep, but the FEI vet denied this. The vet confirmed that these drugs take away the protective function of sensitivity and the horse just kept walking and showed no pain after the fracture.
The FEI decided to suspend the rider for 20 years, 18 years for animal abuse and 2 years for doping. After appeal, the rider's suspension was lifted. Despite the extensive veterinary evidence of FEI, according to the CAS, there is no evidence that the horse had a nerve block or was unable to compete at the time of the competition. The horse was approved for participation the day before by a veterinarian.