The Fédération Equestre Internationale today, Feb. 3, announced seven adverse analytical findings involving prohibited substances in United Arab Emirates endurance events. The horses were tested at four different events at the Al Wathba venue in Abu Dhabi.

The Fédération Equestre Internationale has again pointed the finger at training techniques in Middle East endurance following a spate of fatal injuries at Dubai International Endurance City, the venue owned by Dubai’s ruling Al Maktoum family in the United Arab Emirates.

Five horses have been officially recorded as “catastrophically injured” in four rides in the past three weeks. Two died yesterday, Jan. 23, in a 40-kilometer novice qualifier, even though that ride carried an average speed limit of 16 kilometers per hour.

During the Fontainebleau CEI* 90-kilometer race, held Oct. 15 in France, two horses sustained injuries that necessitated euthanasia. The first, Ariane d’Oudairies, was competing with France’s Andre Coriou. This was the 6-year-old mare’s (Sleeping Car—Java d’Ourdairies, Cyborg) first Fédération Equestre Internationale start.