Australian rider provisionally banned from Tokyo Olympics PTI
Sydney: Equestrian Australia said Wednesday it had provisionally suspended a member of the Olympic show jumping team over a positive test for cocaine.
The governing body said Jamie Kermond returned a positive A-sample for a metabolite of cocaine following a test conducted by Sport Integrity Australia on June 26.
It said Kermond was banned from competing at the Tokyo Olympics but had the right to have his B-sample analysed.
The 36-year-old Kermond was expected to make his Olympic debut at Tokyo.
The Australian Olympic Committee said in a statement that it was aware of Kermond’s provisional suspension and that its selection committee would meet to consider his status on the team.
That made way for Tops-Alexander and Katie Laurie being permitted to compete at the Tokyo Games instead. We are thrilled with the outcome for our remaining two jumping athletes, who have been anxiously awaiting confirmation regarding their participation at the Games, Chef de Mission, Ian Chesterman, said.
Katie Laurie (Getty) Edwina and Katie have both worked extremely hard to earn their place on the Australian team and we are delighted they will get the opportunity to realise their Olympic aspirations in arena at Tokyo.
For Tops-Alexander it will be her fourth Olympics, a first for an Aussie jumping athlete, while Laurie will be making her debut at the Games.
Stuff sports reporters13:44, Jul 22 2021
John Cowpland/AlphaPix/Stuff
Katie Laurie, pictured at the 2014 Horse of the Year show in Hastings, may have her Tokyo Olympic Games participation in jeopardy due to cocaine use by an Australian teammate.
Former New Zealand Olympian Katie Laurie s Tokyo Olympic hopes are in limbo after a cocaine scandal involving an Australian showjumping teammate. Laurie (formerly McVean) rode for New Zealand at the 2008 Beijing Olympics but has since switched her allegiance to Australia. She was named in Australia s three-person showjumping team for Tokyo, but will now have to wait to find out if she can compete as an individual after her teammate, Jamie Kermond, was suspended after testing positive for a metabolite of cocaine on June 26.
Reuters
2 minute read
TOKYO, July 21 (Reuters) - A remorseful Jamie Kermond was booted off Australia s Tokyo Olympics team on Wednesday, after the showjumper tested positive for cocaine.
The 36-year-old from Victoria said his positive A sample result was likely from a single recreational use of the drug during a social event and had no connection with his sport, according to various Australian media outlets. I am extremely upset and remorseful as to what has happened and I accept full responsibility, they quoted him as saying in a statement. I am truly sorry as I have let a lot of people down including my family and team mates.