German rider banned, horse drugged
BEIJING (Reuters) - Germany's Christian Ahlmann has been suspended from the Olympic Games in Beijing after his horse tested positive for a banned substance, the German Equestrian Federation said on Thursday.
It said Ahlmann's horse Coester had tested positive for capsaicin, a metabolite, on August 17. He has been suspended and will not take part in the individual show jumping final on Thursday night.
The federation said its general secretary was informed of the positive test late on Wednesday.
A new rule that came into force during the Beijing Games allows the suspension of horse and rider after a positive test of the A sample.
"On behalf of the national federation will use all means to clear up this case," Federation President Hanfried Haring said in a statement.
The B sample will be tested on Friday. The IOC said it was a matter for the International Equestrian Federation because it involved the horse and not the rider.
The Games' equestrian competitions are held in Hong Kong.
They were switched from host city Beijing to Hong Kong given difficulties in establishing a disease-free zone on mainland China -- a controversial late decision made only in 2005.
(Writing by Robert Woodward; editing by Keith Weir)
