Canadian Olympic Gold Medalist Faces FEI Anti-Doping and Tampering Charges Over Refusal to Drug Test

Eric Lamaze, the Olympian Gold medalist, is a fairly controversial figure in the world of equestrian sports. The retired Canadian show jumper is now finding himself in a fresh set of controversies, involving doping tests, and forged medical records. These allegations have major legal ramifications for the retired show jumper, especially as he suddenly finds himself without a lawyer.

The saga began in June 2021 at the Longines Global Champions Tour Valkenswaard CSI5* in the Netherlands. He and his horse, Fine Lady 6, put together an amazing performance to win the Qualifier for the Grand Prix. That would pretty much be his last happy moment on his equestrian journey, as after this, Lamaze’s troubles began.

Refusal to Drug Test: A Contentious Showdown

According to Lamaze, a drug tester approached him for sample collection, but the situation quickly escalated. Lamaze said that the tester disregarded the COVID-19 protocols that were in place, and also that he lacked proper identification. As a result of this, he implored the tester to leave, lest he should call the police.

This did not sit well with the FEI, and they alleged that Lamaze refused to comply with a mandatory drug test. This would mark the beginning of a long legal battle between the Olympic gold medalist and the FEI.

Following this, Lamaze took to Facebook to voice his frustration. He claimed that the FEI was on a mission to force him out of the sport. He revealed that he had to stop taking his cancer medications before competitions, just so he could participate in an event. However, his history of failed drug tests, in ’96 and 2000 for cocaine, didn’t do him any favors. In fact, these very failed drug tests led him to be disqualified from the Olympics. His long-term friend and attorney Tim Danson helped him fight the ban, and have him participate in the Olympics again.

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However, even Danson has turned his back. In light of the recent allegations that have come up, Danson has chosen to withdraw as Lamaze’s legal counsel, citing trust issues. In a statement, he said “What some people may not appreciate is there is an enormous, enormous trust factor that you build up over 30 years … This has been horrific for me on a human level. I’ve saved (him) a thousand times, and I end up in this position. I’m an officer of the court, and I take that really seriously. As (an) officer of the court, you can advocate as aggressively as you want, but all your representations to the court must be truthful and honest. I had no choice (but to withdraw from Lamaze’s defense).”

Tampering Allegations: Forged Documents and Legal Fallout 

In a shocking turn of events, the FEI introduced a tampering charge into the ongoing case against Lamaze. The tampering allegations stem from forged medical certificates related to Lamaze’s cancer treatment in Belgium. These certificates were submitted both in a Canadian court and in the FEI’s anti-doping case.

A family involved in a lawsuit against Lamaze hired a private investigator to verify the authenticity of these documents. The investigator found the certificates fraudulent. This revelation sent shockwaves through the legal proceedings, casting doubt on Lamaze’s credibility.

Commenting on this, Dansen said. “This is not the Eric Lamaze I’ve known for 30 years. All I said to the judge [in the Ontario case] is, (that) I have always had a genuine belief that what Eric was telling me was truthful. I don’t know what the explanation is. If it’s not cancer, then it’s something else, and it’s a serious illness, and he needs help.”

For now, all we can do is wait and watch how the story unfolds.

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