Signe Kirk Kristiansen Tests Positive to Banned Substance, No Suspension

Dressage

FEI

Danish Grand Prix rider Signe Kirk Kristiansen has tested positive for a WADA banned substance at the 2020 CDIO Wellington on 13 March 2020.

Traces of "Bis-4-cyano-phenyl-methanol," a letrozole metabolite, were found in Kirk Kristiansen's test.

According to the FEI Clean sport database, Letrozole "prevents the biosynthesis of oestrogen. Used in the treatment of breast cancer in women. No legitimate therapeutic indication in the equine athlete. High possibility of affecting performance."

Kristiansen was notified on 28 April 2020.

No Suspension for "Specified Substances"

The FEI confirmed to Eurodressage that Signe Kirk Kristiansen has not been provisionally suspended "as the Prohibited Substance is a Specified Substance."

The FEI introduced the concept of Specified Substances in 2016. "Specified Substances should not in any way be considered less important or less dangerous than other doping substances. Rather, they are simply substances which are more likely to have been consumed by an Athlete for a purpose other than the enhancement of sport performance."

The FEI Anti-Doping Rules For Human Athletes, Article 4.2.2 on Specified Substances reads:
For purposes of the application of Article 10, all Prohibited Substances shall be "Specified Substances" except (a) substances in the classes of anabolic agents and hormones; and (b) those stimulants and hormone antagonists and modulators so identified on the Prohibited List. The category of Specified Substances shall not include Prohibited Methods.

The FEI spokesperson continued: "Positive cases involving Specified Substances can be handled with a greater degree of flexibility within the structure of the FEI Regulations."

Fertility Treatment

Eurodressage contacted Signe for a reaction to her positive doping test.

“In connection with a fertility treatment I was treated with the drug Letrozole by my doctor," Signe explained. "Unfortunately, the drug turns out to be on the international doping list. I am deeply sorry about that, which neither my doctor or myself was aware of. Clearly it is my responsibility."

Signe is now clearing the matter with the FEI and has not been suspended as a rider.

"I am currently in a dialogue with the FEI explaining the situation, and it is now up to them to decide on the next steps," she added.

From Arabians to High Performance Dressage

Signe is married to Thomas Kirk Kristiansen, a fourth-generation heir of the Lego toy imperium. Thomas succeeded his father Kjeld as Lego's deputy chairman of the board in 2016. Signe's sister-in-law, Agnete Kirk Thinggaard is a Danish Olympic team dressage rider.

Signe had been managing Kirk Arabians since 2007, but the Kirk couple closed those activities in the spring of 2018 as Signe shifted her attention to international dressage sport.

She made her CDI debut at small tour level in March 2016 in Wellington, Florida, with Roberto (by Walt Disney x Rubinstein). Her Grand Prix debut followed on Her Highness O (by Hohenstein x Weltmeyer) in March 2018, also in Wellington.

This year she has been showing Her Highness O and her new small tour star Bonderman (by Belarus) on the 2020 Global Dressage Festival in Wellington, where she was tested.