Beerbaum has admitted to using illegal practices

Germany's equestrian federation hopes that it has delivered a wake-up call to dopers after disbanding its Olympic team on Thursday.

The federation, known by its initials FN, dissolved the show-jumping, dressage and three-day event teams after a string of doping allegations.

And Ludger Beerbaum, a four-time Olympic champion who has admitted to using illegal practices, was suspended.

"We had to do something to wake them up," said president Breido zu Rantzau.

Olympic officials welcomed the decision.

"It's a radical move, with which the FN wants to conduct a comprehensive clearing up with the help of independent experts," said Michael Vesper, general director of the German Olympic Committee.

606: DEBATE Doping has become endemic to sports everywhere; it's high time the supposed authorities started enforcing the rules. WhiteCamry

A three-member panel set up by the Olympic committee will conduct an independent investigation starting in June.

The panel will investigate athletes and officials after several positive tests for medication ahead of the Beijing Olympics last year.

Christian Ahlmann was among several riders caught in Beijing for using forbidden substances - not considered doping - on his horse and banned for six months.

The FN also said that another horse may have been treated illegally in China where German riders won three gold, one silver and one bronze medal.

Beerbaum, who was part of the Olympic show-jumping team, admitted in a newspaper interview last weekend to illegal practices.

"In the past I had the attitude: anything that isn't found is allowed," he told the Frankfurter Allgemeine.

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