Contamination means Paris Olympic place changes hands

Alex Hua Tian has been disqualified after his ride ate hay contaminated with a controlled medication

- LUCY ELDER

TOP rider Alex Hua Tian is in “total disbelief ” after China lost its Olympic eventing team spot as his horse tested positive for a controlled medication.

Alex’s ride Chicko, a 13-year-old gelding, tested positive for altrenogest, known under trade name Regumate, at Millstreet’s Olympic qualifier (31 May–4 June). The pair came fourth and helped the team to second and an Olympic spot.

But the result means Alex and Chicko are disqualified. Japan move ahead of China and collect the Paris ticket.

There are no further routes for China to qualify a team, but two individual spots remain, decided on FEI points.

Japanese rider Toshiyuki Tanaka told H&H there is “relief ”, and those involved feel “tremendously grateful to have this second chance”, but are “very sorry for the Chinese”.

Coach Shigeyuki Hosono said: “It was a shock when we missed out in the qualifiers, but the riders changed their mindsets and worked hard to win the individual spots.

“I was honestly relieved when this announcement was made. It will be a new start and the beginning of a challenge.”

Alex told