Australian Olympic Competitor Suspended After Failing Cocaine Test

Australia's Jamie Kermond, riding Yandoo Oaks Constellation, receives his trophy after winning the High Jumping event of the second edition of the Longines Paris Eiffel Jumping tournament on the Champ de Mars in Paris on July 3, 2015. Loic Venance/AFP via Getty Images

An Australian Olympic team member has been provisionally suspended by Equestrian Australia after testing positive during an anti-doping test.

Australian jumping athlete Jamie Kermond returned a positive A-sample for a metabolite of cocaine following a test conducted by Sport Integrity Australia on June 26.

News.com.au reported that Kermond was only informed that he failed his test this week.

Kermond reportedly travelled separately from the rest of the Australian Olympic team when they flew to Tokyo on Tuesday night.

Guests pose for photographers during the unveiling ceremony for Olympic Flame of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic torch relay at empty Komazawa Olympic Park, in Tokyo, Japan, on July 9, 2021. Eugene Hoshiko/AP Photo

His horse “Napa” is already in Tokyo.

“Equestrian Australia has provisionally suspended jumping athlete Jamie Kermond under the Australian National Anti-Doping Policy 2021,” Equestrian Australia said in a statement on July 21.

“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 participating in any WADA compliant event, including the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, while the provisional suspension is in place.

“Under the Anti-Doping Policy, Mr Kermond now has the opportunity to have his B-sample analysed,” the statement read.

Equestrian Australia said they have spoken with Kermond and have offered support services to him.

Meanwhile, the Australian Olympic Committee is expected to make an announcement about it on Wednesday afternoon, News.com.au reported.