CAS increases ban on German showjumper

World sport's top court increased German showjumper Christian Ahlmann's ban from four to eight months after his horse failed a drugs test at the Beijing Olympics last year.

Christian Ahlmann of Germany competes in the Equestrian Jumping competition of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games in Hong Kong. World sport's top court increased German showjumper Christian Ahlmann's ban from four to eight months after his horse failed a drugs test at the Beijing Olympics last year.

The Court of Arbitration of Sport rejected Ahlmann's appeal calling for a reduction in the penalty and instead upheld another appeal by the German equestrian federation calling for a tougher sanction, it said in a statement.

The International Equestrian Federation (FEI) had imposed a four-month ban on Ahlmann and fined him 2,000 Swiss francs (1,300 euros) after his horse, Coster, tested positive for a banned substance at the Olympic Games.

"In its decision issued today, the CAS has upheld the appeal filed by the German Equestrian Federation and has dismissed the appeal filed by Christian Ahlmann," CAS said.

"Accordingly, Christian Ahlmann is declared ineligible for a period of eight months starting on 21 August 2008 and ending on 20 April 2009."

In all, five horses taking part in the showjumping competition which was staged in Hong Kong last August tested positive for Capsaicin, which is normally rubbed in as a lotion to ease pain.

Capsaicin is a derivative of the chilli pepper plant and, when used improperly, can cause the horses to suffer a burning sensation if they fail to clear the showjump bars, thereby straining themselves to jump higher to avoid the pain.

CAS said its panel would release the reasoning behind the decision in four months' time.