Christian Ahlmann gets 120 days suspension

Christian Ahlmann (Ger), is suspended by the FEI Tribunal for a period of four months (120 days), which period began on the date of the application of

the provisional suspension, 21 August 2008, and shall run up to 18 December 2008. He is fined CHF 2,000 and shall also contribute CHF 1,500 towards the costs of the legal procedure. The horse and the rider are disqualified from the entire Olympic Games.

The justifications for the sanctions are : “It is each Person Responsible's personal duty to ensure that no Prohibited Substance is present in his or her Horse's body during an Event. Persons Responsible are responsible for any Prohibited Substance found to be present in their Horse's bodily Samples.

In reaching its conclusion the Tribunal concluded the substance at issue – Capsaicin – was a “Medication Class A” rather than a “Doping” substance based on its interpretation of the list of prohibited substances.

Christian Ahlmann has 30 days to appeal this decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).