The 2016 version of the FEI Equine Prohibited Substances List will come into force on 1 January 2016. There are a small number of changes. Possibly the most significant change is the addition of Harpagoside, more commonly known as devil's claw, as a Controlled Medication.
Devil's claw is an anti-inflammatory product with pain-relieving properties that comes from the Harpagophytum procumbens root.
Devil’s Claw is frequently used in equine supplements. It is important that competitors check all supplements that they may use and discard any that contain Devil’s Claw ahead of the introduction of the new Equine Prohibited Substances List on 1st January 2016.
Competitors are advised to be extremely careful when using any supplements; there are no guarantees that any supplements are free of prohibited substances so riders should assess the need and assess the risk before embarking on the use of supplements.
Other changes to the list are:
- Ammonium Sulphate and Ammonium Sulphide added as Banned Substances.
- Codeine re-listed as a Controlled Medication (previously a Banned Substance).
- Phenibut added as a Banned Substance
For the details one should look at the revised Equine Prohibited Substances List here.
The presence of a prohibited substance in a horse’s sample can result in a minimum sanction of a period of ineligibility of 6 months, disqualification from the event at which the sample was taken, a fine and an order to pay costs.
Related Links
USEF Declares Phenibut a Forbidden Substance
FEI List Group to Add GABA and Hydroxy-GABA to Prohibited List
FEI Launches Online Prohibited Substances Database