Julia Krajewski has provided an update to the current situation and her options regarding the positive result of the B-sample of the medication control of her team horse Samourai Du Thot (Sam) at the 2017 FEI European Championships at Strzegom earlier this year
On her Facebook page Julia has provided an outline of the two options and the subsequent courses of Investigation she believed available to her
“According to FEI regulations, I had two options: I could accept an “administrative sanction”, which means paying a substantial fine and ending up with a “record” in the FEI register. Or I could demand a hearing before the FEI Tribunal, which would either acquit me, or convict me to a competition ban of max. 6 months (which not only applies to starts as rider, but also as a coach). The rider is the person who is considered responsible for the horse in every way, thus the verdict will be “guilty”, unless I can prove how exactly the substance Firocoxib has gotten into my horse. Being innocent myself, is not sufficient to avoid a verdict including a ban. Thus it had been my first aim to clear up the course of events, find a satisfying explanation and convincing evidence to achieve an acquittal and keep my record clean”
“I am grateful to have been offered support and advice by two experienced experts from UK, one a specialist solicitor, and the other a toxicologist. We have reconstructed the complete routine around Sam from August, 3rd to August, 20th, to get a total review of training, feed and nutritional additions, his whereabouts and the persons present or in charge of him at any time. We had all feed in question tested for Firocoxib, with negative results. The course of events in my team and in the stable during the Championship have been investigated, the blood samples we could get hold of further analyzed, without revealing any helpful insights. I questioned our hosts at the training camp and the FEI steward in charge of the stables at Strzegom. For the sake of completeness, we requested the night access lists, in which everyone who enters the stable area after 10 p.m. has to sign in. There might have been interesting information in them, but the Steward was not able to provide them anymore. As the boundary fence around the stable area was not completely closed, it had been no problem to enter this area unnoticed without passing the official stable entrance, thus they would probably not have been too helpful anyway”
“To rule out mistakes of our team, the vet bills of all my horses during previous years have been checked. Equioxx or Previcox, the only medicaments which contain Firocoxib, have never been prescribed or obtained. A contamination through urine (of man or dog) can meanwhile be out ruled. The investigations confirmed the conviction, that the substance can only have been absorbed through the pharmaceuticals Previcox or Equioxx at any one time between the Dressage and Cross Country test at the European Championships"
"The results of these extensive investigations allow me to rule out with certainty a mistake in my own stable management. Neither me nor any person from my team or surroundings have, knowingly or unintentionally, administered one of these medicaments to Sam”
“After expiry of the FEI time limit (Nov 30th), I must regrettably admit that the goal “acquittal” is not attainable. The evidences which we were able to collect are not sufficient to advocate an application to the FEI Tribunal. Consequently, I will accept the administrative sanction"
"Concerning the FEI, this case will be closed, but not for me”
The implications for Julia, and therefore any other eventing rider competing at international level, are of concern
“I will have to ponder the consequences this incident implicates for my future. Not to know what really happened to Sam, will remain a constant worry to me. The wellbeing of my horses is always my first priority, and I will take every possible measure to make sure that something like that can never happen again. I will make use of the next months to design the best possible security for my horses both at home and at competitions”
“During the last weeks, I have frequently questioned myself whether I should really pursue my equestrian athlete career, looking at the situation in which I had got. Eventually, my great love and passion for this sport made me realize that the unsurpassable feeling of fellowship and content, resulting from the success which I achieve together with my horses, is the salt of my life. Working and caring for my horses has been the only cure to the worries of the last dreadful weeks. I refuse to sacrifice my belief in the fairness and comradeship which is so unique to our sport, and the countless sympathetic reactions I received from the worldwide eventing family affirm this conviction. I do not yet feel at ease, to concentrate on winter training and preparation of my horses for next year’s eventing season. But I hope that time will heal, give us some relief and recreation, for a fresh start into the New Year”
