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[RC] FEI: Drug Testing Procedure Overview - John TeeterFYI - This from a longer article at: http://www.gulfnews.com/Articles/SportNF.asp?ArticleID=150330 ==================================== FEI's doping procedures - Selection of horses for testing: Most winning horses are tested routinely and others are selected at random. A horse may also be chosen if the Ground Jury suspects from its performance that it could be under the influence of drugs. - What follows next: If a horse is selected for testing, a steward or the testing official will normally inform the rider as they leave the competition area. He/she will accompany the horse to the collecting stables and remain with it until the sample has been collected. The FEI strongly urges the rider or his representative to be in attendance throughout the whole procedure. It is important to realise that the testing official is not informed of the test result. - What samples are collected from the horse: Usually urine and blood are collected under the direct supervision of an FEI testing official. Each sample will be split in two parts, known as samples A and B. Sometimes other samples may be taken. These can include leg bandages, hair, saliva or swabs. Similar procedures will be followed as for blood and urine samples. All samples will be carefully collected, labelled and packed, and the rider or his representative will be asked to sign that the procedure has been witnessed. The samples will be sealed and the package sent, usually by courier, to an official FEI laboratory. - Official Laboratories: Certain laboratories are officially approved by the FEI for medication control testing. To obtain this approval, laboratories must meet specific standards every year. The laboratory has no way of knowing the identity of the horse.The samples are labelled by code numbers. The code is only known to the FEI. The laboratory will perform an initial screening on the A samples collected from your horse. If this screening suggests the presence of a prohibited substance, confirmation tests will be done. Laboratory results will normally be reported to the FEI within 7 working days. The B samples will be stored at the laboratory. If the A samples were positive a rider may request an analysis of the B samples at a different official FEI laboratory. - Action by the FEI: If the report is negative no further action will be taken and the laboratory will be instructed to dispose of the B samples. If the report is positive, it is sent to the FEI's Medication Sub-Committee. This is a group of scientists and veterinarians with considerable experience in horse sports and medication control. The Sub-Committee does not receive any information about the event where the sample was collected, the competitor, or the horse (except details that could be relevant, such as age and sex). The Medication Sub-Committee considers the information they have received, may consult and then advises the FEI as to whether or not they believe there is a case to be proceeded. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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