Norway could lose the bronze medal it won in the team showjumping event after rider Tony Andre Hansen's horse Camiro tested positive for the banned substance Capsaicin, the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) confirmed Thursday, dpa reported.
If the B sample confirmes the failed dope test then Hansen's team drop out of the medal placings and will be replaced by Switzerland. Gold in the event Monday went to the United States while Canada took silver.
Lantinus, the horse of Ireland's Denis Lynch, and Brazilian Bernhard Alves' horse Chupa Chup also failed dope tests while, earlier Thursday, the German equestrian confirmed the suspension of Christian Ahlmann after the German's horse Coester also tested positive for Capsaicin.
The FEI suspended the 33-year-old rider, meaning he will not be able to compete for Germany in the individual final in Hong Kong later Thursday. The same applies to Lynch.
Under new rules, riders and their horses can be suspended if their A samples are positive. The result of the B samples is due to be announced by the Hong Kong Analytical Laboratory on Friday.
All German horses were tested for drugs before they left for Hong Kong at the beginning of August and nothing untoward was found, said the team's veterinarian, Bjoern Nolting.
At the Athens Games four years ago, Germany was forced to hand back its team gold after failing to register medication given to one of the horses.