National Federations Vote For Progressive List at FEI General Assembly

Dressage

FEI Dressage News

This morning world wide national equestrian federations voted for the Progressive List which was presented in a clean sport workshop yesterday at the FEI General Assembly in Copenhagen.

This progressive list includes controlled medication and allows horses to have a low level of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAIDs) before competitions.

During the Clean Sport workshop yesterday, the "list group," a subdivision of the Lord Stevens Clean Sport Commission, presented two lists to the national federations: the "Standard" list with all banned substances as well as controlled medication, and a "Progressive" list which consisted of two parts: the banned substances considered doping and a controlled medication list which includes four NSAIDs and which are allowed to be administered between competitions and for which there is a limit of administration of 1 gram in 24 hours, not within 12 hours of competition.

The list group requested guidance from the FEI to have more research done on what the proper levels of controlled medication should be. "The level they are talking about is therapeutic and not managing an issue," List Group member Wayne Channon told Eurodressage. "It shouldn't make a lame horse go sound."

Any drug that is not on one of those two lists is allowed. The comprehensive Progressive list should be a helpful guide to riders and veterinarians.

Yesterday many national federations were in uproar over the proposed Progressive List as it would be a turnaround from the no-tolerance policy the FEI has been advocating for years. "Many seemed to have missed the argument that at low dosage level these NSAIDs are good for the horse, they are restorative medication. It is not allowed to mask a problem with a high dose," Channon explained. "The NF's thought it may be levels that would make an elephant with a broken leg stand up and it is nothing like that! We are talking about therapeutic levels."

Many national federations seemed poorly informed about the progressive list and yesterday after the official program was finished, NF representatives discussed the proposals with each other in detail, which might explain the change in mind to a favourable viewpoint on the progressive list.

Out of 102 votes cast today, 53 voted for the progressive list, 42 for the Standard list and 7 abstained. Most European countries were clearly against it. Especially Sweden did not support the progressive list as the country has a long standing tradition of clean sport.

"The approval of the new rules is great for the sport," Frank Kemperman told Eurodressage, "but I'm very disappointed about the results of the voting concerning the list. The title remains to be "Clean Sport" and we have to be careful when we allow certain substances which are even prohibited in certain countries."

Horse and Hound reported that Britain voted against allowing non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in competition. British Equestrian Federation chief executive Andrew Finding explained: "We voted against the adoption of the progressive list. Not because it isn't worthy of consideration but as there was insufficient time to consider and debate the issues fully and to consult with our member bodies and experts on the implications."

Even though the new Progressive list is a very sensitive matter in relation to the FEI's no-tolerance policy, the Clean Sport Commission believes the FEI has taken a first big step forward. "I am delighted that all clean sport recommendations have been adapoted and not just the Progressive List. This is great for equestrianism. We have made the sport more transparent. We enumerated every single drug that can and cannot be used," Channon stated. "And the laboratories world wide are now harmonized. They will all be testing for the same levels. It is a very good day for clean sport."