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2 horses test positive at World Equestrian Games

By WTOP Staff

CAEN, France (AP) — France could lose its team eventing qualifying spot for the 2016 Olympics after one of its horses failed a doping test at the World Equestrian Games.

Qalao des Mers, ridden by Maxime Livio of France, tested positive for a sedative in eventing on Aug. 29, the International Equestrian Federation said Friday. In another case, Tra Flama, ridden by Giliese de Villiers of South Africa, tested positive for an anti-inflammatory in endurance on Aug. 28.

“We carried out an intensive awareness campaign prior to the games and also offered pre-arrival testing to all participants,” FEI secretary general Ingmar De Vos said in a statement. “So it is very disappointing that we have two positives for controlled medication substances at the games, especially when it is well known and well accepted that both these substances are not permitted in competition. Although these are controlled medication, not doping substances, we take this very seriously.”

France qualified for the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro by finishing fourth in team eventing. But the positive test of Qalao des Mers could disqualify France.

“I would never have taken such a risk for France or for my career,” Livio said in a statement. “For now I can only think of a malevolent act since I haven’t given any doping substance to my horse.”

Hearing dates have yet to be set.

Jacques Ferrari gave the hosts their first gold medal at the games by winning the men’s vaulting ahead of compatriot Nicolas Andreani and Erik Oese of Germany.

“It was a lot of stress,” Ferrari said. “At one point, I let my emotions overwhelm me and they guided me. I did my freestyle without remembering much of it.”

Joanne Eccles of Britain retained her world title in women’s vaulting by finishing ahead of Anna Cavallaro of Italy and Simone Jaiser of Switzerland.

“I was absolutely over the moon,” Eccles said. “You can hear the scores coming in when you’re outside, and they were all really good. We had a really good feeling and the horse was great.”

In the team vaulting competition, Germany beat Switzerland for the gold medal. France completed the podium.

Jasmin Lindner and Lukas Wacha gave Austria its first gold medal at the games by winning the pas de deux.

Lindner and Wacha, the 2013 European champions, dominated the freestyle test for the second straight day and were the only pair with a total above nine points.

German vaulters Pia Engelberty and Torben Jacobs took the silver medal, recovering from a disappointing fifth place in Thursday’s freestyle. Joanne and Hannah Eccles of Britain were third.

Top-ranked Chester Weber of the United States took the lead in driving after the dressage test, followed by world champion Boyd Exell of Australia and Theo Timmerman of the Netherlands.

The driving competition continues on Saturday with the marathon and finishes on Sunday with the obstacles.

Britain tops the medals table so far with seven gold medals, and 15 overall, followed by Germany, the Netherlands, the United States and Belgium.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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