doping scandal (bsja ponies)

[Santa_Claus]

a little embelished as well it is national papers but

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/ar...in_page_id=1770

would get times article up as well but my computer being stupid. expect story in at least 4 or 5 of todays (tuesdays) nationals

 

[SJFAN]

Thanks. Just found the Time piece - for some reason copying & pasting the link doesn't work so have done the whole thing:
ONE of the most prestigious events in the Jersey showjumping calendar has been cancelled after the mother of a young competitor was accused of feeding sedatives to ponies belonging to her son’s rivals.
Police were called in after the woman was spotted giving what appeared to be white mints to five ponies waiting in the paddock on Saturday shortly before the Junior Showjumper of the Year contest.



The witness told officials that she went to investigate after seeing the woman try to kick a “sweet” into the dirt when one fell from a pony’s mouth.

She claims that what she found was not a mint but a powerful animal sedative called ACP or acetylpromazine.

Officials from the British Show Jumping Association were alerted and immediately cancelled the junior event in St Lawrence, Jersey, which was open to boys and girls under 16.

Blood samples were taken from the ponies and sent for analysis to the official vet for the States of Jersey.

Tess Phillips, a riding instructor whose grandson Tim Clark’s pony, Flying Sunbeam, was one of the alleged victims, said: “Timmy’s pony was hanging his head and was suddenly very unsteady on his feet. He almost fell over as we tried to guide him into the trailer.

“If it hadn’t been for the halter rope holding him up in there, Flying Sunbeam would have fallen down. We were very worried about him and I called the vet right away, who took a blood sample. We are still awaiting the results.”

The woman accused of administering the sedatives denies the allegations. She is a well-known figure in eventing, both in Jersey and the rest of Britain.

The prize money for the event was about £20. The prestige of winning is seen as the real prize.

Another local rider said: “A groggy horse could easily have fallen and caused itself injury — not to mention harmed the children.”

Jersey police confirmed that a woman was due to be questioned over allegations of horse doping. A spokeswoman said: “Blood samples have gone to our state laboratories and they are still being analysed.

“We have got someone coming into the station to be interviewed soon, but that person is coming purely voluntarily at this stage. No arrest or charges have been made.”

 

[Santa_Claus]

Thanks. For those with the papers its page 3 of the mail nearly the whole page (photo of accused does not look like her in slightest but only one they could find, and photo of son is from showing class as the local paper refused to give over the jumping photos they had of him unless they pixelated his face which they refused so they got a showing picture from the local equestrian photographer.) and front page of Telegraph. about page 3 of times as well but can't quite remember.

still no blood test results back apparently they take about a week so we are looking at the weekend or early next week untill charges could potentially be issued against her.

Intriguingly as of yet H&H have not contacted anyone in Jersey about the story!

 

[Sooty]

Good grief! Extreme pushy mothering!

 

[susan_w]

Pushy mothering indeed. Read the Times at lunchtime, it's in there with a big photo etc.

Not looking good.

 

[SJFAN]

From the BSJA website )new this afternoon):
http://www.bsja.co.uk/news.html?newsID=631

 

[dieseldog]

Mothers! The only thing is though when you feed ACP to your horse to clip/shoe etc it has no effect whatsoever!

 

[Sal_E]

Hmmmm, I'm not sure if I'm disgusted or rather amused!!! There's got to be plenty of good jokes to come from this (I mean, flipping heck WHAT a pushy mother!!!), BUT it COULD have been really dangerous, so not funny I guess. I would be totally furious if someone dared to do that to my horse.

 

[xxJessxx]

just glad no one got hurt but talk about pushy!

 

[SpruceRI]

Over ambitious parents. Don't you just hate 'em?

 

[PapaFrita]

[ QUOTE ]
For those with the papers its page 3 of the mail nearly the whole page (photo of accused does not look like her in slightest but only one they could find, and photo of son is from showing class

[/ QUOTE ]

Pic looks like a girl though?

 

[Santa_Claus]

the picture is from the pony club show of one of the 128cms ponies that is central to the investigation. in the paper they have different pictures. the pic online is 'French Mustard'

 

[PapaFrita]

Oooooh, I see

Missed that bit.

 

[Santa_Claus]

don't worry it doesn't actually say that the pony is that pony its only because i know everyone involved that i know who all the pics are of

 

[susan_w]

The implications of this are massive for this woman - if she's found guilty, then then not only will she probably be banned from BSJA for ever (and rightly so - I mean let's face it, people have been banned for lesser offences), but the show could sue her for lost revenue, which could potentially be quite a bit. I'm sure that they still had to pay judges/course builders/first aid/arena party/etc etc - plus all the advertising, planning effort involved.

I just can't understand how people can do things like this, as it's the children that suffer - imagine what her children must be going through - poor kids.

 

[Toby_Zaphod]

If found guilty then obviously the mother will be dealt with by the law. Additionally BSJA will undoubtably take action against her & rightly so. All this happening around the 11 year old son, the rider, who quite possibly was unaware of what his mother was doing. However the rider may have known what his mother was up to. Should this incident be found proven it will be interesting what sanction, if any BSJA will take against the rider? (The age of criminal responsibility in England being 10 years)
Could this rider's career be over before it's even started?

 

[Rambo]

The BSJA have made a very bland statement about it on their website...basically saying they are aware of it, and that drugs in sport cannot be condoned. I would imagine the mother, if found guilty, will almost certainly receive a lifetime ban which would prevent her from owning or assisting in any capacity at a BSJA show. I don't know about the child....it would seem a shame if he did suffer for his mother actions though.

 

[Dovorian]

Didn't a French tennis papa nobble his son's opponents?

Hey, we may be lucky, somebody might nobble my coffee will a decent brandy...........

 

[susan_w]

That's right - there was something on TV a few weeks ago (or in a magazine) - can't remember.

The stigma for the children must be awful - if found guilty the mother will receive a lifetime ban, and not allowed to go to shows, own ponies etc. OK if the children have other support, but a lot of the time, it only happens because the parent is so driven by the sport - could be the end of this young boys' showjumping days, even if he didn't know anything about it.

Shame.

 

[hollyandivy123]

i think a ban will be the least of her worrys', this is a criminal offensive, what if a child had tried to compete on one of the drugged ponies? what if the pony had collapsed when going round? missed timed a jump? squashed a child? if this is true and then the person responsible for these events will have to face the law as they had done this with full knowledge of the consequences. they endagered the lives of others. personally i hope this is not true but you know human nature

 

[Santa_Claus]

the accused's lawyer has just released a statement apparently saying that there is no evidence and the investigation is not continuing. BUT they also claimed she was never interviewed by police which we know is wrong as police stated they questionned her.

no word from the police though to confirm they have dropped investigation and no word as to blood test results on any of the three ponies, (2 official tests one unofficial)

If I hear any more will say.

 

[Bertie1]

Either the poor kid will be mortified and damaged forever, or he'll grow up to be a dishonest pikey like his mum, if she's guilty that is!

 

[Santa_Claus]

Local BSJA have released statement that kid will be allowed to compete at future events including at the rerun of the cancelled show on the 23rd even if the investigation is still underway or has concluded whatever the outcome.

Its being made clear that the son should not be disadvantaged by the allegations made against his mum. PC have made a similar statement saying kid is welcome but mother is not until investigation concluded so as to maintain a general good will across the showground!

 

[Dovorian]

This was a link in the Telegraph following on from the Jersey BSJA incident! Although nobody was seriously injured this time, anything could have happened so if the allegations are true the woman could have been hairsbreadth off a manslaughter allegation!!

"A father who doped the opponents of his tennis-playing children, leading to the death of one of them in a car crash, was jailed for eight years yesterday.

Christophe Fauviau's daughter, Valentine, who is now 15 and ranked among the best young players in France, and his less gifted son, Maxime, knew nothing of his attempts to influence their results.

One opponent, Alexandre Lagardère, a 25-year-old primary school teacher, was killed when he fell asleep at the wheel of his car after abandoning a local tennis tournament final against Maxime, complaining of drowsiness."

 

[Dovorian]

I guess they are wealthy enough to pay a lawyer to say whatever suits them...... interesting to see where it will end though.

 

[goeslikestink]

blimey how stupid-- but does the allegations stop there what about the welfare of her child in question is she a fit mother i wonder how social services would see it to

how thick to cheat --how blooming dangerous- she might lost mare than a ban could be everything sher holds ddear including her own children--

wonder what theout come will be? equine and human.

 

[Santa_Claus]

Have got word that the police will not be pressing charges but the reason as to why is a bit unclear from the statement they released. It is for one of two reasons

1) There is not an actual charge they can put against her (eg as ACP not controlled substance etc)

or

2) There is not sufficient evidence to prove beyond reasonable doubt (criminal standard of proof) that if the ponies were doped that she was responsible.

There has been no further statements (that i'm aware of) from the BSJA as to whether their investigation will continue further.

 

[henryhorn]

There was a whole page about it in today's Sunday Mail, and what struck me was if I found someone feeding polos to any of our horses I would be pretty cross.
It's an unwritten law that you don't ever offer food of any type to someone else's animal without asking them first.
I think the fact someone found an ACP tablet on the floor near one of the ponies is very disturbing, and the scandal will follow this woman round for ever even if she was innocent.
I feel no sympathy for her however because as I said, you just do not feed other people's horses anything without asking.. and is it just me I wonder that has a horrible feeling the blood tests will show acp up?

 

[Santa_Claus]

whats worse is the article is full of nonsense. firstly she claims her ponies cost nothing well one I know she paid £5k for as I know the old owners and thats a decent sum for a 12h2. Another they admitted to 'costing an arm and a leg' and from its level of experience can only guess that it cost £10-15k so again not the pittence of under £1k that she has suggested. OK one or two have been 'cheap' but far from all.

She also makes out that everyone has grooms for their children which is nonsense almost all the parents minus one or two exceptions are the ones who tack up ponies etc.

With reference to 4x4s that she refers to again there are a few new 4x4s but most are second hand. Almost no one in jersey has a lorry due to the size of the island and the narrow lanes that make them rather impractical so most people have trailers and obviously to be safe you need a 4x4 to tow a trailer!

I have only heard the bits that i have had read to me over the phone as haven't had a chance to pop to the shop yet to pick up a copy for myself.

This article is only going to make people have more resentment towards her though as she is trying to make herself seem like the poor little women who scrapes the pennies together.

If this was true how could she afford to buy a brand new trailer with a huge photo of her son emblazoned across the side which must have set them back about another £4k!? they are not the richest people in the horsey sect in jersey but they are far from being as poor as she makes out.

She is making me more incensed all the time. She will not be welcome for a long time at any horsey event in Jersey thats for sure, she is not turning up to the rerun on saturday (though her son is) but she will have to make an appearance at some point soon.

 

[PapaFrita]

[ QUOTE ]
Have got word that the police will not be pressing charges but the reason as to why is a bit unclear from the statement they released. It is for one of two reasons

1) There is not an actual charge they can put against her (eg as ACP not controlled substance etc)

[/ QUOTE ]

I've been told that ACP (except as Sedalin gel) wasn't even licensed in the UK for use on horses. Is that correct?