Harry Charles and Great Britain loses European Gold Medals

Harry Charles and Great Britain loses European Gold Medals
Britain has lost its team and individual young rider European Championship gold medals after Harry Charles’ ride tested positive for a controlled medication substance.

Harry has been disqualified from all results at the event last July, meaning he loses his individual gold and Britain drops to team silver as a result of the test. The result was caused by accidental transference of a skin cream, used by an “innocent party” who uses it to treat an advanced cancer-related skin condition. It was transferred to Vivaldi du Dom when she stroked the horse.

The 14-year-old gelding tested positive for lidocaine, a topical anaesthetic. Harry was given the choice of accepting an administrative procedure or asking for a hearing with the FEI Tribunal, but after the horse’s B sample also tested positive for lidocaine, he this week accepted the administrative procedure.

This means he has to pay a fine of 1,500 CHF (£1,147) and costs of 2,000 CHF (£1,530) to include testing of the B sample, but no suspension from competition.