Whitaker receives four-month ban

Michael Whitaker helped GB win team silver at the Los Angeles Olympics

Four-time British Olympian Michael Whitaker has been given a four-month international ban after his horse Tackeray failed a drugs test.

The showjumper was provisionally suspended in June by the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) after the horse tested positive in France in May.

He was fined 250 Swiss Francs (£151) and ordered to pay costs of £1,211 but has 30 days to appeal the decision.

As he has been out of action since June, the ban runs until 24 October.

A silver medallist at the 1984 Games, Whitaker, 49, was part of the GB team for Beijing until withdrawing because of an injury to his horse Portofino.

The sport of equestrianism has been rocked by a series of drugs cases in the last year.

A total of six riders were suspended following positive tests at the Beijing Olympics, including the Republic of Ireland's Denis Lynch.

Earlier this year, German five-time Olympic gold medalist Isabell Werth was suspended after her horse failed a test for the banned sedative fluphenazine.