From Andrew Hearn, Sue’s Husband!
This is what I can tell you! It may answer some questions, it may raise others. Remmington has never been administered Meloxicam by any of the Hearn Crew ever! There has never been any need for this medication as Remmington has been totally sound throughout his G.P. Career. It has never been used in our stables at home in Australia or in Europe to the lead up to Rio.
Other Members of the Australian squad were known to be using Meloxicam prior to the qualifying events. It is not illegal to use it although it does need to be declared. I am still finding out the quantity of Meloxicam in the horses system and how long prior to the test that the medication was put into his system. I believe if it was a minute amount it may have been cross contamination from other horses in the stables at Rotterdam, or if there was a substantial amount then something more sinister may have occurred.
It was interesting that the FEI took close to 7 weeks to return the positive test, where I would have expected it back in 7 – 10 days after testing at Rotterdam.
Sue and Remmington had arrived in Rio prior to the FEI sanction being announced. She was told to sign off and accept the fine if she wanted to compete in the Olympics. She signed that she was responsible for the horse and what was in the horse, not that she administered the medication. If she didn’t sign she was simply not allowed to compete. There was no time to get the B Sample tested prior to the event so therefore there this was not questioned.
Throughout the qualifying events at Odense and Rotterdam, members of the EA including the team vet spent a lot of time with the Aussie horses and riders and were well aware that Remmington was one of the soundest horses on the Australian squad that were at the events therefor there was no need for this medication to be used, this is why they believed that Sue had not administered the substance and therefore went to the AOC to support her case to ride at Rio.
The AOC also believed that this was the case and allowed her to ride. Remmington was always extremely strong throughout the trot ups and vet inspections and was blood tested numerous times during the qualifiers and lead up to the Olympics. He had a very clean record.
Sue is an extremely experienced dressage rider having trained numerous horses to GP and has been reserve for Sydney and Athens Olympics. She has always known the rules regarding what medications are, and what are not allowed, as well as what needed to be declared. There is no way that she would knowingly have put herself in this position at any time let alone this close to the Olympic Games. Due to block out laws, we were expressly asked not to say anything publically until after the games were over. The whole Hearn team are absolutely devastated because of this issue and are still trying to deal with the consequences.
Sue’s reputation is beyond reproach. Glad the AOC is investigating and vouched for her too.
Thank you Andrew! This clears a lot of the “muck” going around but obviously raises a lot of questions which are now being investigated.
Sue and Lloyd are stars and totally deserved their place on the team. Hope it all gets sorted soon xx
I’m sure Sue has everyone’s support and it’s well deserved . Chins up!
Thanks Andrew. That clears up a lot of speculation, but as you say, raises other questions. Hopefully this will be cleared up some time. Those of us that know Sue, even a little, have absolutely no qualms in completely supporting Sue and her version of events. I’m looking forward to seeing this magic and inspiring combination back competing soon and enjoying themselves as they deserve. We are proud of you, Sue.
Sues horsemanship is exemplary, lloyds welfare would come before all else. We are so thrilled and proud of Sues wonderful achievements! Glad you can finally explain what happened …
No doubt in my mind that Sue is beyond reproach. Having worked in blood testing for over thirty years, mistakes are not uncommon from wrongly labelled samples, contamination, mix up in testing….. The list goes on. Have they checked these possibilities?
well said Andrew !!!!!
Onya Sue.
Now can we all just get on with our lives!!
PLEASE!
Very sad to see you have to experiment such a ordeal after all that dedication and all the bad luck along the way Sue got to go to the olympic.
It should have been a happy and pround moment for all who have been involved to make her get there.
And instead you have to now deal with all the things poeple have to say about this.
All I can say is “happy are those who are willing to pay the price to make their dream come true.
Lots of love.
Manu
Thanks Andrew ,
but why did the Hearn team accept the sanction.
I am very confused and your response doesn’t clarify how a horse that tested positive was allowed to compete .
Unfortunately the Hearn team are always going to be the team that went to the Olympics with a positive drug test.
When are EA going to deliver an inquiry that clears it up for tax payers and EA nembers.
I think Andrew made it clear that the deal at Rio, was sign or don’t ride. There is no problem with her competing at Rio. She had been disqualified and paid a fine for the positive return at Rotterdam (however that happened). Story finished, Remmington was clear to compete at Rio. CH
So CH you are endorsing that Team Hearn lied to get to ride at Rio .
No I am not. I have no idea how Remmington returned a positive. The substance was in the horse, and it returned a positive swab, and Sue signed something recognizing that, and accepted a fine because as the rider she has total liability, she is merely admitting what is obvious but not admitting that she knowingly had any part in the horse testing positive. I see no indication that she or any of her team has admitted giving the horse anything, quite the contrary, they are strongly professing their innocence – so where is the lie?? I am glad that EA has announced an investigation, let’s hope that it gets to the facts. CH
Upon re-reading and reflecting of my post entitled “Andrew Hearn’s response”, I sincerely apologise to the members of the Australian squad in Rotterdam who feel that they have been unjustly stigmatised, due to a paragraph I wrote stating that there was a known use of Meloxicam. It was a mistake writing what I did, as it casts aspersions on the supportive team members who were there in the stables and had nothing to do with the issue. I would like to retract the paragraph altogether but it is extremely difficult to do this on social media. The point that I was trying to make, is that I was aware of the entirely legitimate use of Meloxicam in the camp in the run up to Rotterdam, I certainly did not mean to suggest that any of the team members at Rotterdam were using the substance.
Again I would like to state that Remmington has never been administered Meloxicam by the Hearn Crew. In my sincere attempt to support Sue, as she has become an innocent victim of this situation, I failed to consider the other innocent parties in the squad. I am also aware that when the situation became known in Rio, it made the task of the other members of the Australian team far more stressful. Again, I am sorry that they – like my wife – have become innocent victims of an extremely puzzling and upsetting situation. Hopefully the EA investigation will find the truth… Andrew
there always other forums that 🙀
What an awful position for the Hearns and all the Aussie dressage team to be in – but what matters to me is that Sue rides her horse in a soft and sympathetic manner, she clearly cares about him regardless of competitive success and there is no doubt in my mind after reading the above that she will be exonerated at the end of the day. It took enormous self control to go out first in the day on to that enormous stage knowing that all of this controversy would be swirling around her – and do a good job – which Sue did. I am proud of the achievements of each and every member of the Aussie team. Sue conducted herself with dignity throughout and I personally would be very happy to have her represent me and my nation on the world stage any time.
I have always admired and respected Sue, having watched her train and produce many horses. Her dedication and integrity is with out doubt .I am so thrilled she rode at Rio. She will be an Olympian forever !