at the 2004 olympic games, beerbaum and his mount, goldfever, managed to finish with only 4 penalty points, helping germany earn the team gold medal. however, following the competition, goldfever tested positive for the prohibited substance betamethasone. the international equestrian federation found beerbaum guilty of breaking the rules, stripping both him and his german team of their medals, dropping germany down to bronze. beerbaum believed the substance to have been present in an ointment administered to the horse due to a skin irritation, and the fei agreed that the substance provided no competitive advantage. however, in accordance with the rule, beerbaum was disqualified.