Every day, a melody. And every positive result for doping by an athlete, a more imaginative excuse. The penultimate: an eye drop for dogs. That’s what he said Domien Michels…and the story has sunk. He has received a minor sanction.
The International Control Agency (International … Testing Agency (ITA) announced that Belgian Olympic team rider Domien Michiels has accepted the disqualification of his individual competitive results in the dressage team Grand Prix event at last year’s Olympic Games as a result of “a violation of anti-doping rules due to the presence of a prohibited substance.
«Domien Michiels provided a sample during an in-competition doping test on August 3, 2024 in Paris, conducted by the ITA under the control and results management authority of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). “The sample was analyzed by the WADA-accredited laboratory in Paris, which reported an adverse analytical result for the specified prohibited substance dorzolamide,” the ITA statement said.
The ITA reports that equestrian athlete Domien Michiels (Belgium) has accepted the disqualification of his individual competitive results at the Dressage Team Grand Prix event on 3 August 2024 at Paris 2024 due to an anti-doping rule violation.
— International Testing Agency (@IntTestAgency) January 22, 2025
«Dorzolamide is included in class S5 of diuretics and masking agents according to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited List and is prohibited at all times. However, topical ophthalmic administration (direct application to the eyes) of dorzolamide is considered a permitted route and does not constitute an anti-doping rule violation (ADRV). All other routes of administration of dorzolamide (such as oral, topical, transdermal, etc.) do constitute an ADRV,” the ITA information note continues.
Adhering to these regulations, Michiels looked for a way to prove that the prohibited substance had entered his body involuntarily. And he assured that everything happened when he administered eye drops to his dog to treat an eye disease that the animal suffered from. And the eye drops in question contained dorzolamide.
The ITA decreed that “dorzolamide did not enter the athlete’s body exclusively by topical ophthalmic route and in light of the principle of ‘strict liability’, the presence of dorzolamide in his sample constitutes an ADRV.”
Despite it being proven that the prohibited substance did not enter the body of the Belgian rider through the eyes, the ITA believes the story of the sick dog: “The athlete was able to demonstrate that he had no ‘fault or negligence’ in relation to the violation of the anti-doping rules. The only consequence of his violation of the IOC anti-doping rules applicable to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games is the disqualification of the athlete’s individual competitive results in the event of the Team Dressage Grand Prix August 3, 2024. The results of the Belgian team at the Team Dressage Grand Prix on August 3, 2024 should not be disqualified.
The rider accepted the sentence and the matter is considered concluded by the IOC. “I accept the decision that recognizes that I was not negligent and that I had no intention to cheat or violate the rules,” he stated on the website of Belgian Horse Riding Federation (KBRSF)—. Now I look forward to giving my best in equestrian sports in the future.”
The Federation also expressed its agreement with what happened: «As a federation we give great importance to fair and doping-free sport. Naturally, we recognize the decision of the ITA and the IOC, but we would like to emphasize once again that, although this finding is considered a doping violationDomien Michiels was also determined to be not significantly at fault. “It is clear that there was no intention of unfair conduct or negligence on his part.”
“Besides, we are relieved that the result of our Belgian team is maintainedwhich is an important recognition of the commitment and performance of the entire team. “We continue to support Domien during this challenging period and maintain full confidence in his integrity as an athlete,” the federation statement added.
Relevant anti-doping organizations, such as the LOVE and the Belgian anti-doping organization could appeal the ITA’s decision.
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