Aussie Olympic team rocked by cocaine scandal

Australian equestrian rider Jamie Kermond has been suspended from the Tokyo Olympics implicit a affirmative trial for cocaine.

Kermond, a amusement jumper who was meant to beryllium making his Olympic debut, returned a affirmative A-sample for a cocaine metabolite.

Equestrian Australia confirmed the quality successful a statement. The trial that came backmost affirmative was taken astir a period ago.

"Equestrian Australia has provisionally suspended jumping jock Jamie Kermond nether the Australian National Anti-Doping Policy 2021," the connection said.

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Jamie Kermond astatine a 2018 lawsuit successful Paris, France. (Getty)

"The mandatory provisional suspension announcement asserts Mr Kermond returned a affirmative A-sample for a metabolite of cocaine pursuing a trial conducted by Sport Integrity Australia connected 26 June 2021.

"Cocaine is prohibited in-competition by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the Australian National Anti-Doping Policy 2021.

"Mr Kermond is prohibited from competing successful immoderate WADA compliant event, including the Tokyo 2020 Olympic games, portion the provisional suspension is successful place.

"Under the Anti-Doping Policy, Mr Kermond present has the accidental to person his B-sample analysed.

"Equestrian Australia has spoken with Mr Kermond and enactment services volition beryllium offered to him."

The Australian Olympic Committee besides issued a statement, reading: "The Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) has been made alert of the provisional suspension of equestrian jock Jamie Kermond aft being informed by Sport Integrity Australia (SIA) arsenic an funny party.

"The Australian Olympic Team Selection Committee volition see the substance aboriginal today."

Jamie Kermond of Australia successful 2015 (Getty)

Kermond, a 36-year-old Sydney-based Victorian, has represented Australia since 2006 and is simply a erstwhile nationalist champion.

He was a arguable enactment for the OIympics, with suggestions that helium was favoured owed to his sponsorship ties with a nationalist selector, Stephen Lamb.

Australia's highest-ranked amusement jumper, satellite No.59 Rowan Willis, was overlooked for the Olympic squad successful favour of Edwina Tops-Alexander (ranked 311th), Katie Laurie (469th) and Kermond (1013th).

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