Four rider-horse combinations have been banned from competing in Thursday's Olympic show jumping individual competition for testing positive in doping or positive medication cases, the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) announced on Thursday.

The four rider-horse combinations are: Bernardo Alves of Brazil (Chupa Chup), Christian Ahlmann of Germany (Coster), Denis Lynch of Ireland (Latinus) and Tony Andre Hansen of Norway (Camiro).

FEI said that confirmatory analysis of the B-samples will be carried out very shortly according to the accelerated procedure in place for the Olympic Games.

According to FEI, capsaicin is classified as a "doping" prohibited substance given its hypersensitizing properties, and as a "medication class A" prohibited substance for its pain relieving properties.

Upon report of a positive B-sample result, evidence and written submissions will be requested from the rider, and a three member panel of the FEI Tribunal will be appointed.

This panel should take a decision as to the applicable sanctions as early as possible further to the accelerated procedure and providing for a hearing to be held as necessary. The competition results will be amended as indicated in the Tribunal's final decision, FEI said.

(Xinhua News Agency August 21, 2008)