Olympics-Doping-Brazilian rider's horse tests positive

HONG KONG, Sept 2 (Reuters) - The horse of Brazilian rider Rodrigo Pessoa returned a positive doping test during the Olympic Equestrian competition last month, the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) said.

Pessoa's horse Rufus tested positive for nonivamide, a banned substance known for its hypersensitising and pain relief properties, the FEI said in a statement. Pessoa and Rufus finished fifth in the individual showjumping final in Hong Kong.

The B sample is due to be tested on Tuesday.

The FEI said this was the sixth and final positive doping case to come out of the Olympic equestrian competition in Hong Kong.

"In terms of testing at the 2008 Olympic Games, all results have now been received, and there are no remaining cases to be reported," the FEI added.

Four riders, including Norwegian bronze medallist Tony Andre Hansen, were suspended from the Olympic Games after their horses returned positive tests for capsaicin, a chilli derivative banned for its hypersensitising and pain-relieving properties.

The three others were Denis Lynch of Ireland, Bernardo Alves of Brazil and Germany's Christian Ahlmann.

Last Thursday, the FEI said tests on the B samples for all four horses confirmed the initial findings. The FEI said it would make a final decision in the first week of October on whether the Norwegian jumping team would be stripped of their bronze medal.

The horse of American dressage rider Courtney King also tested positive for the banned substance Felbinac.

(Reporting by James Pomfret; Editing by Ed Osmond)