The Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) Tribunal issued its decisions May 23 in the cases of the two Saudi Arabian show jumpers, Khaled Abdulaziz Al Eid and Abdullah Waleed Sharbatly, whose horses tested positive for controlled medication substances during competitions. The Tribunal has imposed suspensions of eight months on both riders.

The horses, Vanhoeve (Al Eid) and Lobster 43 (Sharbatly), tested positive to for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), phenylbutazone and oxyphenbutazone (a metabolite of phenylbutazone) at two separate events.

Vanhoeve was sampled at the Riyadh CSI3*-W in Saudi Arabia (Nov. 30-Dec. 3, 2011), and the positive finding was notified to the athlete on Feb. 2, 2012. Al Eid voluntarily suspended himself without prejudice on Feb. 24.

An adverse analytical finding for the horse Lobster 43 resulted from testing at the CSI3*-W at Al Ain in the United Arab Emirates (Feb. 9-11). Sharbatly was notified of the positive test result on Feb. 24, and the athlete also put himself on a voluntary suspension, commencing on Feb. 28