October 05, 2008	Sunday	Shawwal 05, 1429

LAUSANNE, Oct 4: Brazilian equestrian rider Rodrigo Pessoa was on Friday stripped of his fifth-place finish at the Beijing Olympics and banned from competing for four months after a positive drug test on his horse.

The International Equestrian Federation (FEI) said evidence from Pessoa — a five-time Olympian and 2004 gold medalist — suggested “poor stable management for this level of event.”

“The behavior of anyone at the top of the sport and particularly at the Olympic Games must be faultless,” the FEI said in a statement.

The world governing body also fined the 36-year-old Pessoa 2,000 Swiss francs (US$1,766, euro1,280). He is suspended until Jan 10, 2009.

Pessoa’s horse Rufus tested positive on Aug 23 for nonivamide, a banned pain-relieving medication.

They placed fifth in the individual jumping final. Pessoa lost in a jump-off for the bronze medal won by Beezie Madden of the United States.

Pessoa was defending the individual title he won at Athens in 2004. He had finished second in Athens but was given the gold after Irish rider Cian O’Connor was disqualified.

He also won bronze medals for Brazil in team jumping at Atlanta in 1996 and Sydney in 2000.

The FEI, which summoned Pessoa to a hearing held Sept 25 at its headquarters in Lausanne, said it took into account his “impeccable record and reputation.”

Pessoa’s case is one of six doping and medication violations from the Olympic equestrian events, which were held in Hong Kong.

He has 30 days to appeal the verdict at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.—AP