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Michael Whitaker suspended for doping at LaBaule

September 25, 2025

Show jumper Michael Whitaker, who missed his first European championship since 1985 through suspension, will be back in action for the winter season after receiving a four-month ban for inadvertently doping his stallion, Tackeray.

The FEI imposed a four-month suspension on him following a positive dope test of his stallion Takeray. Since Whitaker was suspended in July, the backdated suspension will end on October 24.

He was also fined 250 Swiss francs and ordered to pay 2,000 Swiss francs.

Takeray tested positive for altrenogest during the Nations Cup show at La Baule in May. The hormone is present in a product called Regumate, which can be given to mares but not stallions because of its calming effect.

Whitaker argued that Regumate had been accidentally fed from a feed container normally used for his mare Portofino. He initially offered two alternative defences - that the samples had been contaminated, and that altrenogest was “misclassified” on the prohibited substances list.

All of his defenses were rejected by the FEI Tribunal.

However, in imposing a relatively short suspension the FEI considered Whitaker’s long career, his efforts to establish the reason for the positive test, and the “light sanctions” previously given for mares competing with altrenogest in their systems but without the appropriate authorisation.

Written by European News · Filed Under Press Releases 
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