The British Equestrian Federation announced on the 9 March 2011 that they have released a new set of National Equine Anti-Doping and Controlled Medication rules (BEFAR). These have been instigated by the FEI (International Equestrian Federation) and will affect all BEF Member Bodies in FEI disciplines.
The new rules create a standardised system with a clear policy for all members across the BEF Member Bodies. All these governing bodies will adhere to the same prohibited substances list, which will replicate the FEI List in its entirety (including a ban on Non-steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs, NSAIDs) for adherence at National level, sanctions and procedures.
Implementation of these rules will occur over the course of this year, the deadline for compulsory compliance for all Member Bodies of FEI disciplines is set at 1 January 2012 as a requirement of their affiliation to the FEI. However, competitors need to be aware that some BEF Member Bodies will have fully implemented these rules before that date, for example the rules took effect on 1 April 2011 for British Showjumping and its members. It is the individual member’s responsibility to find out when the new rules will be implemented for their discipline and ensure that they are fully compliant.
BEF Member Bodies will be incorporating the new rules into the forthcoming publication of their rulebooks and the rules will apply to all affiliated members at every level. Individuals who compete internationally should be familiar with the concept of the new rules as they are very similar to those imposed by the FEI system so the rules by which they have to abide by remain unchanged. However, individuals who do not compete internationally will need to consider some new concepts.
The new system will see an increasing number of anti-doping tests across the disciplines and all affiliated members should expect their horse to be tested, whether they are competing at grass roots level or at a National Championship.
All substances on the Prohibited List are known as “Prohibited Substances” but this is sub-divided into two substance groups: Doping substances (which falls under the World Anti-Doping Code in the same way as doping in humans) which are now referred to as “Banned Substances” i.e. they should never be used in the horse; and legitimate equine medication substances which are referred to as “Controlled Medication Substances”, which concentrate on the welfare of the horse when competing.
It may be possible to obtain a National Equine Therapeutic Use Exemption (“NETUE”) for a Controlled Medication Substance in advance of competing, but an NETUE will never be given for a Banned Substance. Similarly there are no threshold levels for Banned Substances.
Under the new rules NSAIDs will be classed as Controlled Medications, which, if found in a horse’s sample during competition, will result a violation. If found guilty of a doping violation, the rider, and potentially also the horse, will be disqualified from the competition concerned and maybe even from the entire event. The standard sanction in addition to that is a two year suspension, plus a fine and potential legal costs. This standard sanction can only be reduced if specific mitigating conditions can be met. During suspension the rider cannot compete internationally or nationally, or be involved in any way in any activity organised by any BEF Member Body, the FEI, the National Federation or any international or national event organisation.
The sanction for a first offence concerning a Contolled Medication is up to two years ineligibility; the exact length will be determined by looking at a number of specified conditions. Under the BEFAR it is recommended that a Medication Logbook should be kept for each horse, recording the date, substance and dosage of all treatments administered to the horse which involve a Controlled Medication Substances along with details of the person who administered the treatment.
For further information and to view BEFAR or the prohibited substance list please go to the British Equestrian Federation website. Please contact Stuart Cutting if you would like to discuss, in confidence, if you have been, or are likely to be, affected by these new rules.
FEI Disciplines refers to the following BEF Member Bodies: British Dressage, British Eventing, British Equestrian Vaulting, British Horse Driving Trials Association, British Reining, British Showjumping and Endurance GB.
