Four horses banned in doping scandal

The equestrian competition at the Beijing Olympics has been hit by a major doping scandal involving four horses and their riders, including a bronze medal winner.

The test results were announced by the sport's international governing body -- just ahead of the individual show jumping competition in Hong Kong on Thursday evening.

The four horses were found to have been given capsaicin, a substance prohibited because of its pain-relieving properties.

The horse Camiro, ridden by Tony Andre Hansen, was part of Norway's bronze-medal lineup in the team show jumping.

The other three horses are Ireland's Lantinus, ridden by Dennis Lynch; Brazil's Chupa Chup, ridden by Bernardo Alves; and Germany's Coster, ridden by Christian Ahlmann.

Hansen, Lynch and Alves will not be allowed to ride in the individual competition. Ahlmann wasn't entered in the event.

A second blood sample for each horse still must be tested and if the results are the same there is likely to be a re-allocation of the medals in the team show jumping where the United States won gold, Canada the silver and Norway the bronze.

Switzerland, who finished fourth, would likely benefit from any disqualification.

It is the second successive Olympics where doping has cast a shadow of proceedings in the show jumping.
Germany were stripped of the team gold in Athens after the horse ridden by Ludger Beerbaum, who is competing in Hong Kong, was disqualified after testing positive for doping.