Belgian dressage rider Domien Michiels was disqualified from the team final at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games for failing a drug test due to inadvertently coming into contact with a prohibited substance while treating his sick dog. The positive test result for dorzolamide, a banned substance, was discovered on the day of the grand prix special that decided the Olympic dressage team medals.
In a statement from the International Testing Agency (ITA), it was confirmed that the dorzolamide entered Michiels’ body when he administered eye drops containing the drug to his dog to treat its illness. The drug is listed as a banned substance on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) prohibited list, except when directly applied to the eyes. This disqualification has implications for the Olympic results.
In other news, the much-loved coloured event horse stallion Glenhill Gold has passed away at the age of 26. Known as “Tonto,” the horse had a successful career with rider Declan Cullen, achieving victories up to the three-star level. The owners of a horse named Loki are campaigning for a change in the law after the horse suffered fatal injuries from running into a road while being chased by a loose dog, highlighting the need for stricter regulations to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
