Kiwi Burghley winner landed with drugs ban

Badminton and Burghley winner Jonathan Paget has been provisionally suspended after his horse Clifton Promise failed a drugs test.

Clifton Promise was tested following his Burghley victory in September and returned a positive finding for the banned substance Reserpine.

New Zealander Paget, 29, was in line to fight for the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing in Kentucky next April and the £225,000 prize on offer for consecutive wins at Badminton, Burghley and Kentucky. However, as the ‘person responsible’ for the horse, he has been banned pending the testing of the B sample and any subsequent hearings.

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An Equestrian New Zealand statement read: “We received notification from the International Equestrian Federation of a prohibited substance in a blood sample taken from Clifton Promise, ridden by Jonathan Paget to victory at the Burghley International Horse Trials, on September 8, after the completion of the competition.

“Clifton Promise was routinely tested as part of the FEI’s strict Equine Clean Sport programme and produced a positive A sample finding for the substance Reserpine.

“In accordance with the FEI’s regulations, as the ‘Person Responsible’ for the horse, Paget is provisionally suspended from any national or international competition with immediate effect, pending the testing of the B sample and any subsequent hearings. Clifton Promise is provisionally suspended for two months pending the B sample and any subsequent hearings.

“Paget was understandably shocked at the finding. He and all relevant parties state categorically that none of them have taken any actions with the intent of administering any prohibited substance. ESNZ and Paget are establishing a likely cause of the positive test and will provide submissions to the FEI Tribunal as required.”

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