Ireland's Olympic boss fed up with doping rep

Ireland's Olympic chief was quoted on Saturday as saying he was tired of the country's reputation being tarnished by positive doping tests in show jumping.

Pat Hickey, the president of the Olympic Council of Ireland, said equestrian sports in Ireland did not seem to follow the same rigorous anti-doping procedures as other sports and vowed there would be repercussions after the Olympics.

"I am sick and tired of our name being dragged through the mud like this," he told the Irish Independent newspaper. "Yesterday, my IOC colleagues were continually making reference to what they called 'another scandal for Ireland'."

Denis Lynch of Ireland was one of four show jumpers suspended from the Beijing Olympics after their horses tested positive for capsaicin, a derivative of chilli peppers, banned for its hypersensitising and pain-relieving properties.

The other three riders were from Norway, Brazil and Germany.

Equestrian sport has long been buffeted by concerns over doping and unethical practices.

At Athens in 2004, four horses tested positive for banned substances. Ireland's Cian O'Connor won individual show jumping gold but he was later stripped of the medal after his horse Waterford Crystal failed a drug test.

"I was asked before coming to Beijing what my wish for these Games was and I answered that it would be Ireland going through the three weeks without being tainted by any hint of doping," Hickey said.

"We have to get answers. The Irish Sports Council is responsible for the testing of athletes and they do a very good job of it. Procedures are followed rigorously. We want the same standards to apply to equestrian sports and, right now, that doesn't seem the case.

"That, to me, must be a serious worry to the whole horse industry in Ireland because it seems to be constantly under the microscope these days."

Hickey said there would be a thorough investigation.

"We are not happy with the way the information was recycled to us and the reporting procedure for our Chef de Mission was not adhered to. Believe me, we have some very serious questions to ask."

- Reuters