Hands On: Ignorance is no defence 08 February 2017 Premium

What important key areas should be observed in order to avoid a positive drug test or product contamination?

Most of the following points apply to both racehorses (Turf Club) and Sport Horses (FEI/HSI).

These key areas that should always be closely observed and monitored include:

Rules: Know the rules and if not clear on any aspect it is important to check with the treating vet or with the relevant authority.

Ignorance is no defence. If unsure, it is the responsibility of the owner/trainer/feeder, to check with the relevant authority.

Do not be tempted by taking uninformed advice saying that a substance is not detectable. The laboratories work hard to ensure that they are fully up-to-date. If a horse tests positive for a drug usually used on pigs for example and then the owner/keeper/manager/feeder decides to use it on a horse, they will be in breach of regulations both for cheating and for placing the horse’s health at risk.

The FEI recommends elective testing where it is unclear whether the horse is free of prohibited substances and therefore clear to compete. At the FEI shows, approximately 5% of horses are tested for prohibited substances and as previously stated, race winners are tested under Turf Club rules.

Prohibited substances lists: The definitive list of prohibited substances, available online, is followed by all the governing bodies. Most of the governing bodies publish shortened lists in their own rulebooks.

The FEI official advice is published on the estimation of withdrawal times from detection times of substances listed.

These lists are constantly under review and updated in line with the latest scientific evidence.

National federations and their riders are obliged to familiarise themselves with them to be up to date with changes well in advance of competition time.

Treatments: If a horse needs treatment, it is important to ensure that the treating veterinarian is informed that it is a competition horse in training/competing at that particular time.

Drugs: If ACP (Sedalin), is used to sedate a horse to clip, or if ‘bute’ is used to assist with a slight swelling, it is best to check with the veterinarian as to how long traces will show up in the horse’s system. It is probable that if a horse is given a ‘bute’ on a Monday, it would test positive if it competed on the Saturday. However, this is an inexact science.

Topical applications: Another common reason for a positive test is when a cream or some other topical medication has been used.

Feedstuffs: It is also important to check that all the feeds and supplements that are being used are certified free of prohibited substances. For example, if the feeder ate a bun covered in poppy seeds over the feed bucket, some could end up in the feed and result in the horse testing positive for opiate.

Most of the larger feed companies apply rigorous testing of their products to ensure that they contain no prohibited substances.

Cross-contamination – through feed buckets in particular – is a common reason given for a positive test. To avoid cross contamination it is essential to ensure that each horse, especially those on medication, has its own water and feed buckets.

When administering a medicine, it is best to take it directly to the horse for which it is intended and mix it straight into its feed trough.

Bedding: Ingested medication may be passed out in a horse’s urine or droppings. This may then be eaten in the bedding, causing a prolongation of the time the drug is in the horse’s system before competing.

Adjoining stables: Extra care should always be taken where adjoining stables are separated only by bars. Under these circumstances there is a higher risk of air contamination with a treatment drug. For example if one horse is under treatment with ventipulmin powder, there is a higher risk of air contamination with powder particles passing across to the other horse next door through the stable bars. This type of contamination may also occur where two horses ‘nudge’ their muzzles through the stable bars.

It should be noted that these tests are very sensitive and can detect very minute amounts of a drug in a horse’s system.

Herbal remedies: All herbal and other non-medical substances used should be checked to ensure that they are also certified free. They may contain a plant extract, that could test positive.

Many misinformed owners are of the opinion that herbal remedies are acceptable for competition/racing purposes. This is incorrect. It is important to fully clarify the position before giving them to a competition horse or to a horse in training.

Records: Always keep a clear record of each horse’s feed and medication regime.

Why are there detection times for some substances and not others?

Currently a detection time has been determined for a relatively small number of commonly used drugs in horses.

It is not possible to provide detection times for all commonly used medications as there is a limited amount of research undertaken to date. Therefore this information is not available for every licensed drug.

Work is ongoing, both in Ireland and internationally via information - sharing agreements to remedy this and provide more detection times, but until the research is available, the detection time for a drug cannot be determined or set.

Is the FEI testing regime for competitors at all levels of competition?

FEI Rules are applied to all FEI affiliated shows and events.

Testing for all levels of competition is under the same rules on drugs, so it could be a major and potentially most embarrassing mistake for a competitor competing at lower levels to assume that the chances of their horse being subjected to testing are minimal. These tests are carried out by Horse Sport Ireland.

Every equestrian sport, (showing, show jumping, eventing), has strict rules banning the use of performance-enhancing drugs and has testing programmes designed to identify cheats.

There are many pitfalls for the unwary, for example:

An oversight in the stable, use of a medicine that contains a banned substance, or a feed that has been contaminated, can all land an individual in the dock, as can failure to understand the time a drug takes to clear a horse’s system.

Sedating a horse to clip it a few days before a competition could result in a positive test.

The penicillin regularly used for horses contains banned substances (procaine), and could take up to 45 days to clear. The relevant authorities are concerned about the lack of information in these areas especially as manufacturers rarely determine detection times.

If a banned substance is found, the offender is said to be guilty whether or not he or she knew it had been administered. The only option used in such cases is to try to prove to the hearing that it was a mistake, not an attempt to cheat, and so lessen the penalty.