The case involves an appeal by professional equestrian Paige Johnson against the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) concerning an anti-doping violation. Johnson participated in an equestrian event in Wellington, Florida, in January 2017, where her horse tested positive for pramoxine, a banned substance under the FEI's Equine Anti-Doping Rules. On 14 July 2017, the FEI Tribunal found Johnson guilty and imposed a one-year ineligibility period, effective from 5 April 2017 to 4 April 2018. Johnson appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on 4 August 2017, seeking to overturn or reduce the sanction and requesting reimbursement of legal costs.
During the proceedings, the FEI Bureau reclassified pramoxine as a controlled medication rather than a banned substance, allowing the application of the principle of lex mitior (the more lenient law). This reclassification influenced the settlement reached between Johnson and the FEI on 19 September 2017. The parties requested the CAS to incorporate the settlement into a consent award under Article R56 of the CAS Code. The terms included reducing the ineligibility period from one year to three months (deemed served from 5 April to 4 July 2017), disqualifying Johnson's results from the event, imposing a fine of CHF 2,000 and a contribution of CHF 3,000 toward FEI judicial costs, and splitting arbitration costs equally.
The Sole Arbitrator, Mark Hovell, verified the settlement's compliance with Swiss law and public policy. The consent award, issued on 28 September 2017, ratified the agreement, giving it res judicata effect and enforceability. The case underscores the CAS's role in facilitating dispute resolution through settlements and the impact of regulatory updates in anti-doping cases, particularly when substances are reclassified. The settlement provided a fair resolution, considering the reclassification of pramoxine and the principle of proportionality. The agreement serves as a full and final settlement, releasing all parties from further claims. The arbitrator confirmed the settlement's bona fide nature and compliance with public policy, ensuring no further legal action can be pursued. The consent award terminates the arbitration procedure and mandates both parties to fulfill their obligations, with the award to be made public under CAS rules. The case highlights the finality and binding nature of the settlement.