Spruce Meadows dismayed by ruling

By NOVA PIERSON -- Calgary Sun
 Dismayed officials at Spruce Meadows will likely close the gates on Eric Lamaze, despite the fact his life-time equestrian ban was overturned yesterday.

 Ian Allison, spokesman for Spruce Meadows, said he doesn't believe Lamaze will be allowed to compete at the show-jumping venue after originally being banned from competition for using cocaine.

 "I suggest those chances are remote," said Allison, adding Spruce Meadows can turn away any athlete.

 He said staff will consult with athletes, sponsors and other "constituents" to see how to proceed.

 "Spruce Meadows is disappointed and dismayed at the decision."

 An adjudicator yesterday reinstated Lamaze to the Canadian Equestrian Foundation citing "exceptional circumstances."

 And while Allison wasn't able to comment on those circumstances, he said drug use in sport isn't acceptable.

 "Spruce Meadows' main priority for the sport of show jumping is to maintain the highest standards of ethics, fairness and sportsmanship," he said.

 Allison said Spruce Meadows had asked for -- and been denied -- intervenor status into the hearings on Lamaze's reinstatement.

 "Everyone at Spruce Meadows feels a real sense of letdown," Allison said, "not only from the results (of the cocaine test), but the decision."

 In a summation ruling re-leased yesterday, Edward Ratushny ruled the show jumper should not be suspended for a positive cocaine test on Aug. 29 that cost him his spot on the Olympic team.

 Ratushny said Lamaze's character, "remorse, prospects for rehabilitation or other such criteria," did not factor into his decision. His full ruling is expected later this week.

 Rather, Ratushny accepted Lamaze's explanation that the one-time addict -- barred from the '96 Games for drug use -- was driven back to cocaine by news of another ban he received Aug. 18 following a positive test for a banned substance he mistakenly ingested through a dietary supplement.

 Lamaze's Olympic fate will be determined by the Canadian Olympic Association's 16-member executive committee.

 The committee began developing a hearing process yesterday and hopes to make a decision within 48 hours, said Lou Ragagnin, the COA's executive director of business operations.

 "In my view, there is no impediment to Eric going to Australia and competing for Canada," said Tim Danson, Lamaze's lawyer.

 "But for Eric Lamaze, there would be no Canadian equestrian team in Sydney."

 Qualifying for the Olympic individual jumping competition, which would be Lamaze's first event, is scheduled for Sunday.

 Millcreek Raphael, his $2-million horse, arrived in Sydney before the saga began to pass quarantine.