Showjumper Simone Coata cleared of wrongdoing

Morgan Sports Law successfully represents Italian showjumper, Simone Coata, in anti-doping proceedings initiated by the Fédération Equestre Internationale (“FEI”).

On 6-9 January 2022, Italian showjumper, Simone Coata, competed at the CSI4* in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on his horse VAJA HOY. A blood sample taken from VAJA HOY at the event tested positive for chlorpromazine sulfoxide, a sedative that is classed as a Banned Substance under the FEI Equine Prohibited Substances List. Consequently, on 31 January 2022, Mr Coata was provisionally suspended by the FEI for a breach of the FEI Equine Anti-Doping Rules.

Morgan Sports Law subsequently challenged the provisional suspension on the basis that the available evidence showed that Mr Coata bore no fault or negligence for the rule breach. The FEI Tribunal accepted that position and lifted the provisional suspension on 1 April 2022, with immediate effect.

Based on the evidence provided on behalf of Mr Coata, the FEI has since also accepted that Mr Coata did indeed bear no fault or negligence for the positive test. Further to that position, and further to a final ruling of the FEI Tribunal, Mr Coata will thus not serve any period of ineligibility or receive any fine.

Emma Waters, Tom Seamer and Ellen Kerr of Morgan Sports Law represented Mr Coata.