A FASTER procedure for resolving drug abuses in horses — and a grading system for any irregularities — was proposed by the International Equestrian Federation’s (FEI) Task Force into Doping at its general assembly in London yesterday in an attempt to restore the sport’s credibility after the Athens Olympic Games debacle. The outcome of the case into Waterford Crystal, Ireland’s showjumping champion, was resolved only 12 days ago when the rider, Cian O’Connor, was disqualified.

The task force’s proposals, which follow discussions with various sporting bodies — among them the IOC and the IAAF — include a compulsory preliminary hearing before the judicial committee of the FEI within five days of a positive testing and the suspension of the person responsible after 25 days if no explanation is forthcoming. At the moment, a rider can continue competing on the horse until the investigation is complete. The judicial committee is to be increased from four to seven members, all of whom should be professionals “in the field of practising law”.

A three-tier grading system for drugs is also proposed: doping, medication class A and medication class B. The first involves drugs that directly affect a horse’s performance, the second is a genuine mistake by the rider but one which affects a horse’s performance. The third is a mistake that does not affect performance.

It is also recommended that the two samples should be tested in the same laboratory after Waterford Crystal’s sample B was stolen en route to its designated laboratory.