• Equestrian

Paget facing two-year ban, Clifton Promise B sample positive

ESPN staff
November 27, 2013
Clifton Promise became the first horse to win the Badminton and Burghley trials in the same year since 1989 © Getty Images
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Badminton and Burghley horse trials winner Jonathan 'Jock' Paget is facing a two-year ban after horse Clifton Promise's B sample tested positive for the banned tranquiliser reserpine.

Both Paget and Clifton Promise were provisionally suspended from all national and international competition in October, after initial testing on Clifton Promise returned a positive result for the prohibited sedative.

Paget is likely to lose his Burghley title as well as the £60,000 first prize and faces a minimum two-year suspension. However, the 30-year-old has vowed to clear his name.

"I know I've done nothing wrong here," Paget told the Daily Telegraph. "We are working with a team of lawyers and scientists, they know the hoops I have to jump through and we're going to put together a case. I'm looking forward to the day I can prove I'm not a doper."

Clifton Promise became the first horse since 1989 to win both the Badminton and Burghley trials in the same year, but owner Frances Stead stated: "I think everyone has already worked out that there was no 'enhanced performance' by a horse being asked to then jump round the Burghley cross-country - probably the toughest in the world - while sedated with reserpine."

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