After being cleared of doping charges, Jock Paget spoke to H&C about the ‘worst year’ of his life and how he’s now looking forward to the World Equestrian Games (WEG).
‘Didn’t cheat’
Following ten months of deliberation the FEI tribunal concluded the eventer had “no fault or negligence for the administration” of the banned substance reserpine, which was found in Clifton Promise’s system.
According to Jock this is only the second time – in any sport – that an athlete has been exonerated.
“I knew that clearing my name was a big task, but I also knew that as long as we could trace the drug and find evidence scientifically, we would be able to prove I didn’t cheat and that it wasn’t intentional,” he said.
‘Everything ruined’
Until the news broke it looked like 2013 was going to be Jock’s most successful year to date. With wins at both Badminton and Burghley, he was on unstoppable form and on target to win the Rolex Grand Slam title – a feat only ever achieved by Pippa Funnell. There was just the Kentucky title between him and a $350,000 bonus.
“It was shaping up to be best year of my career, and then that happened and everything was ruined,” stated Jock. “We’d put together a syndicate to buy a horse for Kentucky, but I wasn’t allowed to compete, and then I was told I couldn’t coach either. Everything was messed up.”
Text message
Jock first heard news that Promise had failed a drugs test via his friend and fellow Kiwi eventer Kevin McNab.
“I was getting text messages from Kevin saying: ‘call me ASAP’,” explained Jock. “I finally called him and he told me both our horses had tested positive for reserpine.”
Prove his innocence
As Jock proclaimed at the time, he had never even heard of the banned substance. But he set about finding the source of contamination and clearing his name.
“We worked out there were two products which both Promise and Clifton Pinot used, so we started from there,” explains Jock. “We found reserpine in one of them, which was a supplement called LessStressE.
“You’d think that would be enough to prove your innocence, but that was only the beginning.”
Contamination
Jock and Kevin then had to prove that they hadn’t tampered with the calming supplement and that contamination had occurred elsewhere.
With the full co-operation of the manufacture Jock’s team found trace levels of reserpine at the manufacturing plant. The company then recalled the product and it discovered nine contaminated batches.
“Once we go to that point, where we had enough evidence that it wasn’t a doping story, but a contamination story, I was able to relax a little bit as I knew we could prove our innocence,” said Jock.
‘Really scarey’
On 7 August the FEI tribunal announced “no fault or negligence” for both Jock and Kevin. One of the reason their case was so strong, was the riders had used LesstressE for a number of years, with vet approval, and their horses had never previously failed a drugs test.
“That’s the really scarey thing about it,” he said. “I had 100 percent confidence in what we were doing. Nothing had changed in four years, because it worked so well. If someone has asked me what are the chances of a sample coming back dirty, I’ve had said it was impossible.”
“So am I worried about the next time one of my horse’s has a dope test? Bloody aye, I’m going to be nervous.”
Jock also credits the support and diligence of Team NZ, with its vets, nutritionist and scientists, for his exoneration.
“Being on the programme with New Zealand is not just about reading the label – that’s not good enough,” he said. “They investigate all products given to our horses and talk to the manufacturers, and that fact that we could prove this made a difference to our case.”
Stringent testing
If product testing was stringent before, you can imagine how tightly things are being run at camp Clifton now – especially with WEG few weeks away.
Since the charges were lifted, Jock is now clear to compete in the Games, following his selection in June.
“Everything Promise is fed and given is being analysed,” said Jock. “We’ve bought enough to last us until after WEG and a portion of every single batch is being tested.”
The prospect of competing at WEG is the one thing that kept Jock focused throughout these past tough ten months. While he says he’s “relieved” it’s all over, he never lost sight of this one key goal.
“For me, clearing my name doesn’t really change a whole lot, it’s just about getting back competing and in time for WEG,” he said.
“I used my time off to up-skill the horses and work on their weaknesses. So while they weren’t getting any match practice I’ve been working on things to ensure when did go back, it would be at a high standard.”
Going well
His extra training certainly seems to have paid off. Promise scored 34.6pen in the dressage at his come-back event at Salperton Park at the end of June, and then achieved an impressive 29.6pen at Aston-Le- Walls last week (7 August). He also jumped clear in the cross-country and showjumping at both events.
Based on these performances how does Jock rate his chances at WEG?
“Promise is going really well,” said Jock. “I’ve not pushed him on the cross-country, as I like to take him steady for a couple of runs before a big event to settle him.
“He’s a thoroughbred and wants to race so I have to remind him to take it steady in places, but on the big day I’ll let him run.”
WEG threat
According to Jock, while New Zealand is fielding one of its “strongest teams” Germany poses the biggest threat, while Michael Yung is the one to beat individually.
“WilliamFox-Pitt is a threat as well – there are so many riders capable of winning,” he said. “I’m also stoked to see Harry Meade on the team. He’s lovely to watch and to be able to do it after the year he’s had is incredible.
“Not many people ride like him and I’m looking forward to seeing him at a world event.”