Mother in gymkhana pony-doping scandal

Richard Savill

Police are investigating an allegation that a mother doped rival competitors' ponies in an attempt to help her child win a young show jumper of the year final.

The British Show Jumping Association has asked police to look into a complaint that the mother fed the animals a sedative before the under-16s final in Jersey. The event was immediately cancelled over safety concerns.

Some parents and officials became suspicious when they saw the mother feeding Polo mints to a number of ponies. It is understood the owners of two ponies saw something fall from one animal's mouth.

A tablet suspected of being an ACP (acetylpromazine) veterinary sedative was found on the ground and has been taken for analysis.