Red hot chili peppers doping horses in Olympics

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August 21, 8:09 PM

by Trish Green, Denver Horse Examiner

 

 

Burn Baby Burn - Dennis and Latinus
Photo: BBC UK Online

Four horses were suspended today in the team jumping event after testing positive for capasaicin - basically - essence of hot chili pepper (usually cayenne).

You've seen it in Whole Foods and Vitamin Cottage - capasaicin ointment - supposed to be a topical pain reliever. BUT - rub the stuff on the front of your horse's legs and it also 'sensitizes' them - or IRRITATES them because it's a derivative of HOT CHILI PEPPERS! The horses pick their legs up in reaction to the burning sensation - thus clearing jumps they might have skimmed or hit. (The effects are made to sound like Tiger Balm or those chemical heat patches for your back).

The horse and riders were not allowed to compete in tonight's individual jumping competition which was just won by Canada's Eric Lamaze on Hickstead. 

Repeat test has been run on each horse. If the test comes up positive again they will be 'erased' from Monday's team jumping event completely changing the results.

The Irish competitor Denis Lynch admits he puts "Equi-block" - a liniment containing capasaicin on his horses back before a workout (which is exactly what this description says to do). The company, based out of Ohio, stated for the record there should not have been a problem with the product.

Riders were given the opportunity to submit horses to a drug test when they arrived at the Hong Kong facility to set a drug-free baseline, which the Irish did do and came up clear.

I am a little bit confused as to if they tested the horses LEGS or their urine.  We'll see what happens when the results come back from the lab...

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