Japan awarded Paris 2024 Olympic Eventing Team slot following reallocation from Olympic qualifier for Groups F&G in Millstreet (IRL)

10 October 2023

The FEI has reallocated one of the two Paris 2024 Olympic team quota slots for Eventing delivered at the CCIO3*-L Designated Olympic Qualifier for Groups F&G in Millstreet (IRL) in June where Australia finished first and China second, following a positive Controlled Medication case for one of the members of the Chinese team, namely the horse Chicko (FEI ID 106MH02/CHN), ridden by Alex Hua Tian (FEI ID 10019301/CHN).

 The reallocation of China’s team slot to Japan, who placed third at the event, is a consequence of the disqualification of the results for the Chinese combination, which sees China drop into fourth place on a finishing score of 207.2, while Japan moves up into second place on 125.7 and hence next in line for the second Olympic team qualifying slot on offer at Millstreet behind Australia.

 In terms of the process, the horse Chicko, ridden by Alex Hua Tian, tested positive for the Controlled Medication Altrenogest on 2 June 2023, and following confirmatory analysis of the B sample, Hua Tian elected for the Administrative Procedure in accordance with art. 8.3 of the Equine Anti-Doping and Controlled Medication Regulations. The consequences of this administrative procedure include the disqualification of the results obtained by the combination at the event, a fine of CHF 1,500 and costs of CHF 2,000 for the B sample. As this was an administrative procedure for a controlled medication violation, no suspension was imposed on Hua Tian.

 The 14 National Olympic Committees which have qualified Eventing teams for Paris 2024 are therefore: France (host country), Germany, USA, New Zealand, Great Britain, Ireland, Sweden, Switzerland, Belgium, The Netherlands, Poland, Australia, Italy and Japan. Two slots remain available for the two highest ranked teams from FEI Olympic Groups D and/or E, at the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago (CHI), from 26-29 October 2023 (excluding teams already qualified).

 See Paris 2024 Eventing Qualification System and list of nations as well as where they earner their qualification here.