EQUESTRIAN: The International Equestrian Federation has stripped France of its spot in team eventing at next year's Olympics because of a doping violation.
EQUESTRIAN: The International Equestrian Federation has stripped France of its spot in team eventing at next year's Olympics because of a doping violation.
The FEI says Maxime Livio's horse Qalao des Mers tested positive for a sedative medication that is banned in competition at last year's World Equestrian Games in France.
The French eventing team, including Livio, placed fourth to qualify for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
The FEI says France is now disqualified and loses its Olympic berth in the event. Livio also loses his fifth-place result from the individual competition at the World Equestrian Games.
Under FEI rules, a team is typically disqualified for a single doping violation at major events.
Seventh-placed Canada now gets one of the six Olympic eventing slots offered at the World Equestrian Games.
The FEI says its tribunal ruled only on the disqualifications and will decide later on further sanctions.
AP
