Doping casts shadow over Games riding

By Sophie Taylor

HONG KONG (Reuters) - As exultant riders made their final victory lap of the Games and left the floodlit arena on Thursday, the issue of doping once again cast a shadow over Olympic equestrian sport.

Hong Kong, which was made host city for riding sports after China was unable to guarantee a disease-free zone, had spent $150 million on state-of-the-art facilities, including rare anti-doping test laboratories on-site.

But the discovery that four horses tested positive for capsaicin, a derivative of chilli peppers banned for its hypersensitizing and pain-relieving properties, marred the final days of equestrian competition.

Alexander McLin, Secretary General of the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI), told Reuters that the sport was "not unique in having problems with doping".

"To acknowledge that is a very particular issue, because we have to tackle doping and medication issues which also perhaps skews perceptions at times," McLin said.

"What's also very important to being an Olympics sport is an effective system and in terms of deterrence of doping and I think that's exactly what we're doing." he added.

POSITIVE TEST

Norway's Tony Andre Hansen -- the top-ranking individual rider after the second show jumping qualifier on Monday -- was provisionally suspended from the Olympic Games after his horse tested positive.