talking tactics Talking Tactics Dope testing in equestrian sport


For as long as competitive horse sports have existed there have been cheats and in addition to extensive and carefully written rule books, so-called dope testing has developed over the years into a sophisticated scientific operation with the objective of ensuring that all competitions are ‘fair’ and free from the influence of substances known to potentially enhance performance.


At the level of affiliated competition in all disciplines, the controls in place are rigorous and in the UK, these are embodied in the British Equestrian Federation’s (BEF) equine anti-doping and controlled medication rules, known as BEFAR (see below).


British Ridings Clubs (BRC) has its own independent Discipline Committee with jurisdiction over cases where a rider or horse tests positive under the BRC Banned Substance and Controlled Medication Procedure, which are based on the current BEFAR rules.


So what do riders think of the current process – and is it really working at the lower levels of equestrian sport?


Advanced level dressage competitor Chrissie Havis was approached last year after completing Prix-St-Georges test at a British Dressage Area Festival held at Northallerton Equestrian Centre. She confirmed; “I knew nothing about it until a man with a clipboard approached me immediately after I’d finished my test and stayed with me throughout – he didn’t leave me at all.


“After I’d untacked, I got my horse’s passport and took him to an allocated stable where we met the vet. They did blood tests, checked his identity against his passport, did a urine test, which was easy thankfully. They kept me very well informed and it was fairly straightforward, except it catches you off guard and makes you feel guilty, even though you


haven’t done anything. It took around an hour and a half in total.


“You have to just hope that nothing has been contaminated by accident and because they don’t even write to say ‘you’re fine’, you’re left wondering for however long it is. In this day and age, I think they could at least send an email with a negative result.


This view is a one shared by all riders who have been tested themselves or had their horses tested and there doesn’t seem to be a well-thought out reply as to why only positive results are notified, other than limited resources.


With the trend for positive dope tests reported to be falling year on year, Rachael Hollelly- Thompson, Manager of British Riding Clubs confirmed; “We see fewer positive tests as the years go by and education and awareness improves, which


Laboratory testing underpins the success of current anti-doping rules


is encouraging, and we find most riders are happy for their horses to be tested, albeit sometimes rather surprised. We also hear from riders that our testing programme gives them confidence that BRC competitions are ‘fair’ and they are usually very supportive of the whole process.”


Chrissie Havis added: “I want to see more of this as it’s better for the sport, but I do wonder how long people can still get away with


Equine Anti-Doping and Controlled Medication What you need to know


The equine anti-doping and controlled medication information provided here aims to equip everyone involved with competition horses with all of the information they need to ensure that they and their horses remain within the rules.


The equine anti-doping and controlled medication rules exist to protect the welfare of the horses and ponies competing in equestrian sport, as well as protecting the integrity of the sport itself and ensuring a level playing field. The BEF’s equine anti-doping and controlled medication rules, known as BEFAR, apply to all horses and ponies competing at ANY LEVEL under national rules in the FEI sports of dressage, driving, endurance, eventing, para dressage, showjumping, reining and vaulting. BEFAR is, so far as is possible, a replica of the Federation Equestre Internationale’s (FEI) equine anti-doping and controlled medication regulations (EADCMR). In order for Great Britain to continue to participate on the world stage in the FEI disciplines, we were compelled to adopt this mirror image of the FEI EADCMR and did so from January 2012.


This includes the adoption of the full FEI Equine Prohibited Substances


Equine Page 44


List, as amended by the FEI from time to time, and its application to all horses and ponies competing in any competition affiliated to one of our FEI member bodies at any level.


BEFAR and its associated testing programme are managed and administered centrally on behalf of the Member Bodies from the BEF offices in Warwickshire. All of the detailed information is readily available on the BEF website for everyone to view. These links will be helpful ...


http://www.bef.co.uk/ repository/downloads/Riders/ AntiDoping/FEI_Doping_leaflet. pdf


http://www.bef.co.uk/ repository/downloads/BEFAR_ Case_Status_Table_13.12.16. pdf


http://www.bef.co.uk/Detail. aspx?page=National-Equine- Anti-Doping-Controlled- Medication


BEFAR Programme 6 monthly update Testing Programme Summary


The period under review in the report below is 1st July 2016 – 31st December 2016. During this time the British Equestrian Federation Anti-Doping Programme carried out 228 tests.


Table 1: Doping/Controlled Medication Rule Violations – summary of categories of substance (closed cases, reported in the past 6 months)


The following table details the categories of substance for all closed cases publicly reported on the BEF website in the past 6 months. Possible anti-doping rule violations are grouped according to the categories outlined in the FEI prohibited list. For further detail on individual cases, refer to the BEF website at http://www.bef.co.uk/ repository/downloads/BEFAR_Case_Status_Table_13.12.16.pdf


Category of substance


Acepromazine


Phenylbutazone and Oxyphenbutazone Meloxicam


Classification


i.e. Banned (B) or Controlled (C)


C


C C


Number of findings


case to answer 1


2 1


Percentage 25%


50% 25%


Table 2: Testing Programme for Member Bodies Between 1st January 2016 – 31st December 2016 228 tests were attempted on behalf of all 7 MBs responsible for FEI disciplines. Tests conducted during this 6 month period included:


Member Body


British Showjumping British Eventing British Dressage Endurance GB British Reining


British Carriage Driving British Equestrian Vaulting


Year to 31 December 2016 67


65 76 4 8 8 0


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