THEY USED TO DOPE THE HORSES

Spruce Meadows was close to cancelling the world's most prestigious
show-jumping event over the prospect of having to accept a competitor who
had been banned for drug use.

But the event will be held Sept. 5-9.

Eric Lamaze, one of the highest-profile doping offenders in show jumping,
has been short-listed for the Canadian team at the Masters.

Under Canadian Equestrian Federation guidelines, the venue can decline to
invite individuals but not the team that represents the country where the
event is being held.

"It isn't a matter of us changing our principles - we either accept the
team they send or we have to cancel the tournament," said Spruce Meadows
co-chair Ron Southern. "We just want people to understand that we've
fought as hard as we can to keep him from coming."

Lamaze has tested positive for cocaine twice.

Shortly before he was to leave for the 2000 Sydney Olympics, he was caught
- - four years after vowing to turn his life around after testing positive
before the '96 Atlanta Olympics.