Equestrian athlete's Olympic results thrown out for using eye drops on sick dog
An Olympic equestrian athlete had his results from the Paris Olympics thrown out after he inadvertently tested positive for a banned substance after giving his sick dog eye drops.
The International Testing Agency said Domien Michiels of Belgium accepted the disqualification after his individual competitive results at the Dressage Team Grand Prix event on Aug. 3.
The results of The Belgium Team, which finished fifth in the Dressage Team Grand Prix, were not disqualified.
Michiels provided a sample after his competition, and it found dorzolamide, a banned substance.
Dorzolamide is classified as a diuretic and masking agent by the World Anti-Doping Agency.
"The athlete was able to establish that dorzolamide entered his body inadvertently when he administered eye drops containing dorzolamide to his dog to treat the dog's illness," the ITA said in a statement.
The agency said that because Michiels did not put dorzolamide in his own eyes, which is considered a permitted route, the presence of dorzolamide in his sample and any other administration of the substance, whether oral, topical, or transdermal, constitutes an anti-doping rule violation.
The ITV said Michiels was able to establish that he bore "No Fault or Negligence" for the anti-doping rule violation.
"I accept the decision that acknowledges that I was not negligent and had no intention to cheat or break the rules," Michiels said in a statement. "I now look ahead to continue to give the best of myself in equestrian sports in the future."
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