Olympic champion Eric Lamaze is facing an extended ban in the sport of equestrian riding due to a doping violation. The Court of Arbitration for Sport has imposed a second four-year suspension on Lamaze, prohibiting him from competing until 2031. This latest ban stems from his evasion of a doping control in the Netherlands in 2021, as reported by the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) in a statement issued on Monday. Notably, Lamaze will not begin serving this new ban until his previous four-year suspension concludes in September 2027.
During the CAS proceedings, it was revealed that Lamaze had submitted forged medical documents, resulting in a four-year ineligibility period as stated by the FEI. Despite his success as an athlete, which includes winning individual gold and team silver in jumping at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and individual bronze at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games, Lamaze has faced setbacks in his career. This includes missing out on competing at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and 2000 Sydney Olympics due to positive tests for cocaine.
In 2022, Equestrian Canada appointed Lamaze as the technical adviser and head of national jumping teams, showcasing his continued involvement in the sport. At 56 years old, Lamaze will be 63 by the time his current bans expire. Additionally, the FEI has also imposed a fine of 15,000 Swiss francs ($16,500) on Lamaze, along with an order to pay 12,000 Swiss francs ($13,000) towards the governing body’s legal costs and the expenses of the arbitration case.
