LAUSANNE, Switzerland — Equestrian rider Rodrigo Pessoa has been stripped of his fifth-place finish at the Beijing Olympics and banned from competing for 4½ months after a positive drug test on his horse.

The International Equestrian Federation (FEI) said Friday that evidence from Pessoa — a five-time Olympian and 2004 gold medalist — suggested "poor stable management for this level of event."

Pessoa's horse Rufus tested positive Aug. 23 for nonivamide, a banned pain-relieving medication.

The sport's governing body also fined the 36-year-old Brazilian $1,766. He is suspended until Jan. 10, 2009.

"The behavior of anyone at the top of the sport and particularly at the Olympic Games must be faultless," the FEI said in a statement.

Pessoa lost in a jump-off for the bronze medal won by Beezie Madden of the United States.

Pessoa was defending the individual title he won at Athens in 2004. He had finished second in Athens but was given the gold after Irish rider Cian O'Connor was disqualified.

He also won bronze medals for Brazil in team jumping at Atlanta in 1996 and Sydney in 2000.

Pessoa's case is one of six doping and medication violations from the Olympic equestrian events, which were held in Hong Kong.

He has 30 days to appeal the verdict at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.