Four-Year Ban for Drug Use Confirmed in 2024 Doping Report
The recently released 2024 annual report from the Dutch Doping Authority has confirmed that Dutch showjumper Bart Bles is serving a four-year suspension after testing positive for cocaine during the 2022 Dutch Showjumping Championships.
At the time, Bles had secured silver aboard El Rocco, but was disqualified shortly after the positive test. His medal was revoked, and he was immediately removed from competition. His case has now officially concluded with one of the sport’s more severe bans—reflecting how seriously such violations are taken.
Back in 2022, Bles admitted to a lapse in judgment during a night out and expressed deep regret, but the consequences were swift.
He lost not only his medal and ranking, but also his spot at CHIO Aachen that year as well as his sponsorship with SF Equestrian, which cited a strict zero-tolerance policy.
While the substance in question wasn’t named publicly at the time, the 2024 report confirms it was cocaine, banned in-competition under global anti-doping rules. The case serves as another stark reminder that recreational drug use is still subject to the same sanctions as performance-enhancing violations in elite sport.
Bles was suspended by the FEI on June 13 in 2022, and is barred from competition until 2026.
