On October 10th, the Chinese Equestrian Association released an official statement from equestrian athlete Hua Tian regarding a shocking incident in which his horse was found to contain controlled drugs (non-prohibited substances) during competition. As a result of this discovery, the team qualification for the Paris 2024 Olympics was canceled.
11 October 2023
Hua Tian provided a brief explanation of the situation in his statement, stating that on July 10th, 2023, his horse, Chiko (castrated horse), ingested alprenolone, a controlled drug that is not prohibited from use. This led to China being penalized and falling to fourth place in the rankings. Japan will replace China at the Paris Olympics due to this incident.
The news has sparked heated reactions on Chinese social media platform Weibo, with netizens expressing shock, disappointment, and frustration. Many users have expressed their disbelief and disappointment over the situation, stating that they were "scammed" and questioning how such a thing could happen.
One user wrote, "What's going on? Reports show that cross-infection and the positive result of aldehyde progestin are different from normal positives," indicating confusion over how the controlled drug entered the horse's system. Another netizen expressed anger towards Hua Tian, stating, "Many people said they were scammed, what's going on? Reports show that cross-infection and the positive result of aldehyde progestin are different from normal positives."
However, not all reactions have been negative. Some netizens have come to Hua Tian's defense, stating that mistakes can happen and that he should still be allowed to participate in future competitions. A user commented, "Heart-warming about Hao Tian. Equestrian events in China have always been weaknesses, and now he is disqualified from competition. What happened? Will he still participate in the next Olympics at the age of 34?"
The Chinese Equestrian Association has stated that they will continue to maintain equestrian as much as possible and are investigating the matter further. The incident has also raised questions about feeding and management practices within the sport, with one user commenting, "This is a problem of feeding and management."
In conclusion, the discovery of controlled drugs in Hua Tian's horse has resulted in a setback for China's equestrian team. While some netizens have expressed disappointment and frustration, others have shown support for Hua Tian and acknowledged that mistakes can happen. The incident has highlighted the importance of responsible feeding and management practices within the sport of equestrianism.