7 Jun 2014

Paget's provisional suspension lifted

11:48 am on 7 June 2014

The New Zealand equestrian Jock Paget is temporarily clear to return to the competitive arena after the FEI Tribunal lifted his provisional suspension pending the release of their full ruling.

The decision follows a specific request from Paget for the lifting of the provisional suspensions.

The request was made during a two-day hearing before the FEI tribunal in London earlier this week where Paget attempted to explain how his horse Clifton Promise failed an equine anti-doping test in 2013.

The ruling, which relates solely to the provisional suspension Paget has served since notification of the positive A sample last October, the tribunal says it's satisfied on a balance of probabilities that he has demonstrated that he bore no fault or negligence for the violation.

Experts have told Radio New Zealand that the lifting of the provisional suspension indicates that Paget is likely to be fully cleared in the tribunal's final decision that will be released at a later date.

They also say it clears the way for Paget to begin preparing to compete at the Equestrian World Games starting in France in August.

Equestrian Sports New Zealand chief executive Jim Ellis is welcoming the ruling, but cautions that it relates solely to Paget's provisional suspension.

Clifton Promise returned a positive test for the banned substance reserpine after winning the Land Rover Burghley International Horse Trials last September.

A subsequent B sample confirmed the positive analysis.

The lifting of Paget's provisional suspension from FEI competition takes effect immediately, and as a result, his suspension from all ESNZ activities, which had run concurrently, has also been lifted, pending the release of the tribunal's full ruling.