The Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) Tribunal has handed Jordanian endurance athlete Nayef Al Fayez a 30-month suspension following an adverse analytical finding on samples taken from the horse Obama Al Aswad at the 80-kilometer CEI*1 in Amman, Jordan, on May 21, 2016.

The samples tested positive for the banned substance boldenone (an anabolic androgenic steroid) and the controlled medications dexamethasone (a corticosteroid), meloxicam (a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, NSAID), phenylbutazone (PBZ, another NSAID), and oxyphenbutazone (a metabolite of PBZ which has the same pain-relieving qualities).

In its final decision, the FEI Tribunal noted that under the current FEI Equine Anti-Doping Rules, the sanction for an adverse analytical finding for a banned substance is a two-year period of ineligibility for first time offenders. However, due to the presence of five prohibited substances, including the banned substance boldenone, and the performance enhancing effects of the cocktail of drugs, the tribunal felt that the imposition of a period of ineligibility greater than the standard sanction was justified.

The period of provisional suspension, effective from June 20, 2016, has been credited against the period of ineligibility, meaning that the athlete will be ineligible until Dec. 19, 2018. In addition, the Tribunal imposed a fine of CHF $5,000; costs of CHF $3,000, and disqualified the athlete and horse from the competition, in which they finished second