Medication & Dope Testing
MEDICATION & DOPING; TAKE HEED DO NOT GET BANNED
Recent events have highlighted the need for all riders to take great care in managing the nutrition and veterinary treatment given to their horses and their own personal medical regime in order to avoid an inadvertent breach of the anti-doping regulations. Since both systems are based on the principle of “strict liability” i.e. if a prohibited substance is found in your horses system or your own system you are automatically guilty, lack of knowledge is no defence. Since the sanctions if you get it wrong can pose a serious threat to your sporting career it is essential that you and your supporters (whether grooms, medical advisers or vets) are up to speed with what is and what is not permitted.
For further information on equine anti-doping go to the FEI website at which includes amongst other things the equine prohibited list. The human prohibited list can be found here and the extremely helpful Drugs Information Database for humans ,which allows you to check by name any medicines you are taking to see if they are prohibited, can be found here.
If you have any doubts regarding what you can give your horse ask your Vet; but make sure your Vet is fully conversant with FEI Regulations and the FEI "Medicine Box" (the Vet should know what this is) . If your Vet is not fully confident in the advice he / she can give, make sure they or you contact a Team Vet. Make sure all the additives / ointments / potions / washes / fly sprays / creams etc on your Yard and in your Lorry are checked. Keep any medications locked up and ensure that if they are administered there can be no cross contamination to other horses.
DO NOT FALL FOUL OF THE REGULATIONS THERE WILL BE MORE TESTING AT ALL LEVELS
Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) – Reminder
All riders need to keep in mind that they are covered by the FEI / UK Sport human anti doping rules and as a result are subject to human dope testing. A full list of the prohibited substances can be found on the WADA website by clicking here.
If a rider is tested and a prohibited substance is found in his / her sample a “strict liability “ system will be applied. This will result in disqualification from the relevant event, a possible fine and suspension from all participation in the sport. Riders are reminded that they should be particularly careful when taking medication to check that it is not prohibited.
If a rider has a medical condition which requires them to take any prohibited substance they should not compete unless they have first obtained a Therapeutic Use Exemption Certificate (TUE ) from the FEI. TUE forms can be obtained direct from the FEI by clicking here.
Click here for a Guide to Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUE)
Click here for the TUE Flowchart
Some substances included in the list of Prohibited Substances are used to treat medical conditions frequently encountered in the Athletes population. They are strictly limited to: glucocorticosteroids used by non-systemic routes, namely intraarticular, periarticular, peritendinous, epidural, intradermal injections and inhaled route. For these substances, no TUE is required. Instead, a Declaration of Use must be submitted by the Athlete. Click here to download a Declaration of Use.
Recent developments within the area of human anti-doping that you should be aware of......
Global Drug Reference Online (Global DRO)
Many of you will remember the old Drugs Information Database (DID) – an online tool used for checking the status of medications. The DID was taken out of service early this year, however, in conjunction with the Anti-Doping Agencies of the USA and Canada, UK Sport have launched the Global Drug Reference Online or Global DRO as it will be colloquially known.
The Global DRO can be found at
www.globaldro.com and can be used by athletes or athlete support personnel.
UK Anti Doping (UKAD)
On 14 December 2009, the Drug Free Sport function of UK Sport will cease to exist and a new body, UK Anti Doping (UKAD) will exist in its place, carrying out all of the functions that UK Sport Drug Free Sport carried out previously as a completely separate body.
The 2010 Prohibited List
WADA has now published the 2010 List of Prohibited Substances, which will come into effect on 01 January 2010, a copy of which can be downloaded by clicking
here. Key changes between the 2009 and 2010 lists are:
· Pseudoephedrine will be prohibited from 01 January 2010.
Pseudoephedrine is readily available in many over the counter cold and flu remedies and athletes should take particular care when using such products. As with all medications, athletes should check the status of any cold and flu type remedies on
www.globaldro.com before using the product.
· The Process has changed for Asthma Inhalers
Two Beta-2 Agonists taken via inhalation, Salbutamol and Salmeterol, will not require a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) as of 01 January 2010. Instead, athletes will be required to complete a
Declaration of Use (DoU) as per the current system for glucocorticosteroids.
International competitors will need to declare their use of Salbutamol or Salmeterol to the FEI – we are awaiting a copy of the form.
National competitors will need to declare their use of Salbutamol or Salmeterol to UKAD using the online declaration form on the 100% ME website (
www.100percentme.co.uk).
Please note that all other Beta-2 Agonists will still require lung function tests and a TUE.
· Platelet Derived Preparations
Platelet derived preparations are sometimes used by doctors in the treatment of injuries – they can also be referred to as Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) or “spun blood”. These treatments can be given in a number of ways, and athletes should be clear about which route of administration is going to be used before receiving the treatment to ensure that the relevant notification has taken place:
Intramuscular injection of PRP is prohibited and athletes should apply for a TUE before having this treatment.
Receipt of PRP preparations via any other route will require a Declaration of Use to the FEI (international competitors) or UKAD (national competitors).
Equine Doping – What FEI registered riders need to know
After all the controversy over the Prohibited List at the FEI General Assembly in November of last year, riders would be forgiven for being unclear as to what system now applies. This article is designed to update riders and their support staff.
The first thing to appreciate is that the existing system continues up and until 4 April this year – nothing changes until then, same rules and same Prohibited List.
From 5 April however things will change. There will be a new set of FEI Rules and a new Prohibited List. For the moment that list will set out that bute and the other NSAIDs are prohibited substances. That situation may change after the FEI GA in November when the issues will be debated in full and a decision taken so watch this space for updates.
The new system: What are the key changes?
Well first of all doping (which falls under the World Anti-Doping Code in the same way as doping in humans) is separated out from medication control (which is there for welfare reasons) in the new FEI Rules. This is linked to a change in the approach to the Prohibited List which is much more specific about what is prohibited so this should allow riders and their vets increased certainty and enable them to avoid mistakes.
All substances on the Prohibited List are now known as “Prohibited Substances” but this is then divided into two substance groups. Doping substances are now referred to as “Banned Substances” ie they should never be used and medication substances are referred to as “Controlled Medication Substances”.
It may be possible to obtain an Equine Therapeutic Use Exemption (“ETUE”) for a Controlled Medication Substance in advance of competing but an ETUE will never be given for a Banned Substance. Similarly there are no threshold levels for Banned Substances. Since Banned Substances are so serious they are also prohibited both at competition and out of competition and the FEI now has the power to test for them out of competition if it receives “intelligence” that they are being used. Vets and other support staff should also take note that being in possession of a Banned Substance is now a doping violation in itself unless they can demonstrate “compelling justification” for that possession.
If a Banned Substance is detected the rider will now as a matter of course be provisionally suspended from competing and it is also open to the FEI to suspend any Support Personnel and also the horse involved. Support Personnel (which would include vets, grooms, trainers etc) are now specifically named in the Rules which sends out a clear message that the FEI will in the future be focusing on them as well as the riders.
If found guilty of the doping violation the rider, and potentially also the horse, will be disqualified from the competition concerned and also possibly from the entire event. .The standard sanction on top of that is two years suspension, plus a fine and potential legal costs. This standard sanction can only be reduced if specific mitigating conditions can be met – this very much reflects the human doping system of imposing standard sanctions. During suspension the rider cannot compete internationally or nationally or be involved in any way in any activity organised by the FEI, the National Federation or any international or national event organisation and support personnel can even be banned from attending events as spectators.
In contrast the medication control system concentrates very much on the welfare of the horse when competing. So there is no out of competition testing, no sanction for possession of these substances by vets, grooms and other support personnel and no mandatory provisional suspension. A provisional suspension can only be imposed if the controlled medication substance is found in the horse during the course of a World Equestrian Games, the Olympics or Paralympics. In addition it is possible to apply for an ETUE for a controlled medication substance prior to competing. The sanction for a first offence is up to two years ineligibility and the exact length will be determined by looking at a number of specified conditions.
A Medication Logbook must now be kept for each horse recording the date, substance and dosage of all treatments administered to the horse which involve a prohibited substance and details of the person who administered the treatment. This Logbook can be inspected by the FEI Tribunal if a violation of the Rules is alleged.
So what should you do now?
You need to make sure that your vet, grooms and other support personnel become familiar with what is and is not banned so that you can ensure that you will be fully compliant from that date. You should also draw to their attention the increased likelihood of them being included in legal proceedings should a positive test occur.
You also need to start using a Medication Logbook. We have prepared a suggested format which can be downloaded by
clicking here.
