Paige Johnson and Luke Skywalker competing at WEF 2017. Ph. ©Erin Gilmore for NF
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has approved a settlement between the FEI and USA’s Paige Johnson in a substance reclassification case.
Samples taken on January 21, 2017 from the horse Luke Skywalker 46, ridden by Johnson at the CSI2* in Wellington, FL, tested positive for the local anaesthetic Pramoxine. Following the decision of the FEI Tribunal, where Johnson was suspended for one year, the athlete appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
With the substance Pramoxine being reclassified from a banned substance to a controlled medication — effective on January 1, 2018 —, Johnson and the FEI ultimately agreed to a settlement, which was approved by the CAS. Under the terms of the settlement, Johnson’s period of ineligibility has been reduced from one year to three months, effective from the April 5, 2017 date of notification. Therefore, the athlete is now cleared to compete.
“Given the fact that Pramoxine has been recently reclassified as a controlled medication — effective as of January 1, 2018—, the FEI agreed as a matter of fairness and based on the principle of proportionality, that the period of ineligibility initially imposed by the FEI Tribunal should be reduced,” said Mikael Rentsch, FEI Legal Director. “Three months was deemed appropriate given the circumstances.”