Leading horse rider Abdullah Sharbatly suspects foul play in the doping allegations and resultant suspension of two Saudi riders for eight months. Speaking from France Sharbatly said his horse and that of his colleague Khaled Al-Eid have not taken any banned stimulants. “This seems like a plot schemed against the Saudi show jumping team to prevent it from competing in individual and group events in London Olympics. The two horses were subjected to powder products called Phenylbutazone and Oxyphenbutazone to exclude us from the Games. “The decision by International Equestrian Federation (FEI) to suspend me and Khaled was unfair,” he added. Al-Eid is a bronze medalist at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and Sharbatly has won silver at the 2010 World Equestrian Games. Both the riders have won many awards in international events. The Saudi Equestrian vet team has not prescribed these non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and there is a strong possibility that the two horses were subjected on purpose to these banned stimulants, he pointed out. Sharbtaly did not exclude the possibility that a European equestrian team is involved in this plot against the Saudi team, which showed excellent results over the past few months during participation in different events. Sami Al-Dihami, director to the team, reiterated that the Saudi team would challenge the decision saying the penalty of the violation didn't call for stopping the Saudi team for eight months. Saudi Arabia's Equestrian Federation said in a statement that it was “deeply disappointed” with the findings that led to the ban. “Saudi Equestrian is a strong advocate of the FEI's Clean Sport campaign and the welfare of the horse is central to the entire team's ethos.” __
