Rider Suspended After Horse Tests Positive for Caffeine
An FEI Tribunal found the rider bore no significant fault and imposed a three-month suspension in a case involving yerba mate contamination.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Equestrian
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The FEI Tribunal ruled that rider Sofía Fernández bore no significant fault after endurance gelding Gladiador VV tested positive for caffeine, theophylline and paraxanthine at a November 2025 competition in Punta del Este, Uruguay. The rider received a three-month suspension, back-dated to July 2026, and a 3,000 CHF fine.
Why it matters
The case shows how an unintended substance in a feed routine can trigger a controlled-medication violation even when no fault is assigned to the rider. It underscores the strict liability framework governing equestrian competition.
The FEI Tribunal decision rests on a pharmacokinetic assessment by Dr Stuart Paine, who confirmed the results are plausible from yerba mate given a few days before sampling. The groom's estimate of about seven handfuls in the prior month was not tied to a measured dose, and the full concentration levels are not stated.
The players
Sofía Fernández
The rider of Gladiador VV who proposed accidental contamination by yerba mate as the cause of the positive test and received a three-month suspension.
Dr Stuart Paine
An FEI pharmacokinetic expert who confirmed the test results are plausible from administration of yerba mate a few days before sampling.
Fédération Équestre Internationale (FEI)
The international governing body for equestrian sport, whose tribunal issued the ruling and sanctions in this case.
The details
The groom regularly drank yerba mate near the stabling area and sometimes fed used yerba mate to the horse as a reward, which the horse licked after approaching him during his drink. The rider, Sofía Fernández, proposed accidental contamination as the most plausible explanation, and the tribunal accepted that she bore no significant fault.
Timeline
November 2025: Gladiador VV tests positive at the Punta del Este endurance competition and is disqualified.
July 2026: The rider's three-month suspension is back-dated to this month.
13 October 2026: The FEI Tribunal releases its decision.
Roadmap
The case fits within the FEI's longstanding strict-liability framework for controlled medications, under which contamination through feed or environment can still result in sanctions. It illustrates how tribunals weigh rider fault against the absolute responsibility placed on competitors for substances found in their horses.
Riders competing under FEI rules are responsible for any controlled substance found in their horse, even where the source is unintentional contamination. Anyone handling a horse's feed or treats near competition should check that no stimulant-containing products are present in the horse's environment.
The takeaway
Competitors should audit everything that touches a competition horse, including staff snacks and shared drinks, because a no-fault finding does not automatically prevent a suspension.
Further reading
Explore more Equestrian coverage on Wisevoter for context on competition rules and anti-doping cases.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Horse & Hound.
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