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This past summer, Domien Michiels helped the Belgian men’s dressage team take fifth place at the Summer Olympics in Paris. But Michiels had his results thrown out recently after the International Testing Agency said that Michiels tested posted for the banned drug Dorzolamide.
Dorzolamide is classified as a diuretic and masking agent by the World Anti-Doping Agency. Now, you might be wondering how and why someone who competes in horseback riding might need to dope. And therein lies the catch.
As it turns out, Michiels wasn’t doping. At least, he wasn’t doping intentionally.
Belgian Olympian Disqualified After Accidental Exposure To Dog’s Medicine
“The athlete was able to establish that dorzolamide entered his body inadvertently when he administered eye drops containing dorzolamide to his dog to treat the dog’s illness,” the ITA said in a statement.
But wait, there’s more! Ironically, if Michiels had simply used dorzolamide in his own eyes, it would have been considered a legal use of the drug.
However, the ITA stated that the presence of dorzolamide in his sample and any other administration of the substance, whether oral, topical, or transdermal, constitutes an anti-doping rule violation. Which is why the agency claims that while he failed the test, he did so with a “No Fault or Negligence” label.
“I accept the decision that acknowledges that I was not negligent and had no intention to cheat or break the rules,” Michiels said in a statement. “I now look ahead to continue to give the best of myself in equestrian sports in the future.”
Somewhat strangely, the ITA did not void the results of the entire Belgian team, which finished third. Perhaps the fact that Belgium did not win a medal in the event influenced their decision. But it’s definitely up there among the most bizarre reason to have your Olympic results disqualified.