Press release from the FEI

CAS issued the operative part of the final Awards in three human anti-doping cases, following the appeal launched by the Qatari Jumping athletes Sheikh Ali Al Thani (FEI ID 10024194) and Bassem Mohammed (FEI ID 10082635), as well as the Egyptian Jumping athlete Mohamed Talaat (FEI ID 10021782), of the FEI Tribunal Decisions issued for each athlete by the FEI Tribunal on 17 December 2021.

In-competition samples taken from Mr Al Thani and Mr Mohammed at the CSIO4*-W Designated Olympic Qualifier for Group F - Rabat (MAR), 10-13 October 2019, tested positive for the prohibited substance Carboxy-THC, a metabolite of Cannabis which is a Prohibited Substance in-competition, under the FEI’s Anti-Doping Rules for Human Athletes (ADRHA). The sample taken from Mr Talaat (FEI ID 10021782) at the African Games-S - Rabat (MAR) 20-24 August 2019, also tested positive for Carboxy-THC.

In the proceedings before the FEI Tribunal, all three athletes denied having used this substance and put forward an alleged sabotage, which they were unable to prove.

The FEI Tribunal deemed that the athletes had failed to establish the source of the Cannabis and imposed a two-year suspension on each of the athletes, from the date of the FEI Tribunal Decision, with backdating of the suspension to be inforce retroactively six months (17 June 2021). Furthermore, the results of all three athletes as of 17 June 2021 had also been disqualified and for Mr Talaat this included his results obtained at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, resulting in team Egypt dropping from rank 11 to rank 16 in the first Jumping Team Competition.

CAS partially upheld the decisions of the FEI Tribunal and imposed a one-year suspension on Mr Al Thani, a two-year suspension on Mr Mohammed and a one-year suspension on Mr Talaat. Furthermore, CAS also decided to backdate the suspension period for all athletes. Consequently, the suspension of Mr Al Thani and of Mr Mohammed has been served and lifted since 2 June 2022, and Mr Talaat remains suspended until 16 June 2022. The reasoned decision will be issued by CAS in due course and published by the FEI. 

The CAS Award -Operative Part for Sheikh Ali Al Thani can be found here.

The CAS Award -Operative Part for Bassem Mohammed can be found here.

The CAS Award -Operative Part for Mohamed Talaat can be found here.

The appealed FEI Final Decisions issued on 17 December 2021 can be found here.