Andrew Kocher banned for ten years
When the headlines about Andrew Kocher became known, one did not want to believe it at first. The U.S. rider, who has also competed in Nations Cups, was alleged to have ridden his horses with electrospores.
Kocher initially defended himself against the allegations. The FEI initiated an investigation and proceedings against him. Now this came to a decision.
He was banned for 10 years, disqualified from 8 events, has to pay a 10 000 CHF fine as well as the costs of the proceedings amounting to 7500 CHF.
An FEI statement said the FEI Legal Department notified the athlete on June 29, 2020, that an investigation had been launched after allegations of the use of electrospores were reported to the independent Equestrian Community Integrity Unit (ECIU). It was alleged that Mr. Kocher used electrospores on a number of FEI-registered and national horses at international and national events, as well as during training.
Following the investigation, the FEI formally opened disciplinary proceedings against Mr. Kocher in October 2020. He was provisionally suspended on October 28, 2020, pending a hearing before the FEI Tribunal, and this period will count toward the full suspension, meaning the athlete will be ineligible to compete until October 27, 2030.
During the suspension, the athlete is prohibited from participating in any capacity, including as a spectator, in any competition or event sanctioned or organized by the FEI or a national federation.
The sanctions also include the disqualification of any results obtained in events for which photographic evidence has been submitted to the FEI Tribunal showing the athlete's use of electrospores. The eight events are: CSI4* Hickstead (GBR), 21-24 June 2018; CSI3* Lexington (USA), 14-18 May 2019; CSI2* Lexington (USA), 22-26 May 2019); CSI5* Calgary (CAN), 5-9 June 2019; CSI5* Calgary (CAN), 27. 39 June 2019; CSI3* Traverse City (USA), 7-11 August 2019; CSI3*-W Columbus (USA), 2-6 October 2019; and CSI4*-W Toronto (CAN), 5-9 November 2019.
These sanctions form the tenor of the FEI Tribunal's decision. The full reasoned decision will be published here in due course. The parties may appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) within 21 days of receipt of the full decision. (see FEI Legal Department Judgment)
The Federation of the USA also unanimously supports the FEI's decision.
