Swedish Grand Prix rider and trainer Pether Markne has been charged with driving under the influence and will be sentenced on 13 November 2013 for this felony.
Swedish equestrian magazine Tidningen Ridsport reported that the police stopped Markne at night driving home from the banquet held at the Swedish Championships in Sundbyholm at the end of July. Markne had celebrated his birthday there and when the taxi didn't show up he made the wrong decision to drive the short distance home to Arphus himself.
The police made him to a breathalyzer test, which was positive. In Sweden the alcohol limit is 0.2 per mille in the blood or 0.1 mg per liter in the breath. Markne was found positive, his license was revoked and he will be sentenced on 13 November. A positive breath test automatically leads to a blood test in Sweden. 1.0 per mille in the blood counts as a grave offense and might lead to imprisonment.
"I have always preached the importance of good behaviour towards horses and humans. Zero tolerance for drinking and driving is obvious to me," Markne commented. "I feel incredibly bad for what I did and this is a huge trauma for me. I can hardly believe I have done something as stupid as this."
In September Markne already resigned as Swedish team trainer of the show jumping youth riders, a job he shared with Henrik Lannér.
Source: Ridsport
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