Tony Hansen appeals to CAS to keep Olympic bronze

Norwegian rider Tony Andre Hansen has made his case to sport's highest court to keep his Olympic bronze medal in team jumping despite his horse failing a doping test.

Hansen gave evidence to the Court of Arbitration for Sport at a two-day appeal hearing that ended Tuesday. He is challenging an International Equestrian Federation (FEI) ruling to disqualify him from last year's Beijing Games.

The court has not set a timetable for a verdict.

Hansen's horse, Camiro, tested positive for capsaicin, a banned pain relieving medication derived from chili peppers.

Their performance helped Norway take bronze behind the United States and Canada in Hong Kong, where the Olympic equestrian events were held.

Without Hansen's scores, Norway teammates Morten Djupvik, Stein Endresen and Geir Gulliksen would drop out of the medal position.

The fourth-place Switzerland team of Steve Guerdat, Christina Liebherr, Niklaus Schurtenberger and Pius Schwizer is in line to get the bronze medals.

Hansen faced two FEI tribunal hearings before the governing body reached its verdict in December. The ruling said he failed to explain how capsaicin was present in his horse.

The 30-year-old rider also was banned from competing for four and half months.