Irish, German gold-winning horses fail tests

Ireland's only champion at Athens and two high-profile German riders risk losing gold medals after their horses failed dope tests.

Ireland's only champion at the Athens Olympics and two high-profile German riders risk losing gold medals after their horses failed dope tests.

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Waterford Crystal, the horse Cian O'Connor rode to win Ireland's only gold medal of the games, failed a drug test after the individual show jumping competition, the Equestrian Federation of Ireland (EFI) said on Friday.

Goldfever, ridden by Germany's Ludger Beerbaum in the team show jumping and Bettina Hoy's three-day eventer Ringwood Cockatoo had also both failed tests for banned substances according to Germany's governing body.

The revelations, which topped news bulletins in horse-mad Ireland, came after the International Federation for Equestrian Sport (FEI) said four out of 40 horses tested in Athens had returned positive samples.

Germany's equestrian establishment has already been rocked by the loss of two eventing gold medals during the Games after an ugly legal battle over a time infringement by Hoy.

And O'Connor's gold medal salvaged a disappointing Olympics for Ireland after distance runner Cathal Lombard admitted taking a banned drug before the Games and 5,000-metre runner Sonya O'Sullivan limped in last having carried off silver in 2000.