German rider has ban increased over doping

German rider has ban increased over doping Lausanne, Switzerland  - A German equestrian team rider whose horse was tested positive for a banned substance at the Beijing Olympics has had his ban increased from four to eight months by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

The Lausanne-based CAS upheld an appeal by the German equestrian federation to increase the suspension on Christian Ahlmann after the international equestrian federation FEI had banned the rider for four months.

Ahlmann had appealed for the ban to be reduced to three months.

Ahlmann's horse, Coester, tested positive for Capsaicin, a banned pain reliever.

The ban now runs from August 21, 2008 to April 20, 2009 and all results, points and prize money won during this period will be invalid.

At the time of the Olympics, the FEI had regarded Capsaicin as a both a doping substance and a medication as a pain reliever but has since reclassified the drug as a doping substance.

Ahlmann was one of five riders whose mounts were tested positive for the substance at the Games.

CAS said it would give a detailed ruling within four weeks.(dpa)