Show jumper Bart Bles has been caught using a banned substance. This is reported by the equestrian sports association KNHS. Bles tested positive in April during a doping test during the Dutch jumping championship in Deurne. He won silver there with El Rocco behind Dutch champion Willem Greve. He has to hand in that medal. Bles has been suspended with immediate effect.
Due to the disappearance of Bles, Sanne Thijssen moves on to second position and the bronze is for Jur Vrieling.
Bles reacts through the KNHS excited and disappointed. “I got carried away on a night out. It’s unbelievably stupid and I regret it terribly. I’m really letting the whole team down with this, it should never have happened.” The product involved was not disclosed.
Suspension
A disciplinary procedure determines how long Bles will be suspended. The rider from Babberich can immediately forget about participating in the CHIO Aachen. His place will be taken by Jack Ansems at the end of June.
His sponsor SF Equestrian suspended Bles “in accordance with the contractually agreed house rules”. The sponsor said he was “completely surprised and shocked” by the positive test. “Such a positive test in no way fits within the sport and the contractually agreed house rules. SF Equestrian applies a strict zero-tolerance policy. Further information about the further consequences will be provided at a later date”, according to the Gelderland company for which Vrieling also comes out.