“For me, the well-being of my horses is the absolute priority in my daily work as a horse owner and jumping rider.” - Steve Guerdat

Leanne O’Sullivan writes: The above statement by one of the world’s leading show jumpers is double-edged as even when horse owners and riders act with the best of intentions their actions can result in disqualification, investigations and a damaged reputation due to the detection of prohibited substances in tests carried out on their horses.

Recently, a number of high profile equestrians have had to face questions due to their horses returning positive tests for naturally occurring prohibited substances (NOPS). So what are NOPS and how can we avoid our horses suffering the consequences of having NOPS in their system?

The BETA NOPS Assurance Scheme has been established to reduce the risk of NOPS in feed. BETA and a sub-committee comprised of technical representatives of some of the major UK and Irish feed manufacturers, including Connolly’s Red Mills, along with invaluable assistance from the British Horseracing Authority, designed the scheme. So who better to talk to than Laura Hoey of Connolly’s Red Mills.

IN recent times there has been a lot of discussion around the topic of prohibited substances and the FEI is constantly updating the list of prohibited substances. Analytical equipment is becoming increasingly sensitive and testing can now detect to parts per billion. Therefore the chance of a positive test is increasing.

Most prohibited substances have a zero tolerance, which means any trace of a prohibited substance is considered a positive. This article hopes to shed some light on the topic of prohibited substances.

PROHIBITED SUBSTANCES

The International Federation for Equestrian Sports - Federation Equestre International (FEI) Anti-Doping and Controlled Medication Regulation governs equine anti-doping and has defined a prohibited substance as ‘any substance that can create an effect on a horse’.

This is a very broad statement as it includes any affect at any time acting on one or more of the following body systems:

• Nervous System

• Cardiovascular System

• Respiratory System

• Digestive System

• Urinary System

• Reproductive System

• Musculoskeletal System

• Immune System (except for vaccinations)

• Endocrine System

• Masking Agents

A prohibited substance could be in the form of veterinary medicine, human medication, human foods such as chocolate or caffeine containing drinks, or from NOPS which may be present in feed ingredients, forage and supplements.

Prohibited substances are also sub divided by FEI in to two categories ‘Controlled Medication Substance’ and ‘Banned Substance’.

CONTROLLED/BANNED

  • A Controlled Medication Substance is a substance that is used in equine medicine that can be used outside of competition. However, the horse’s system MUST be clear of any controlled medications at the time of competition.
  • A banned substance is a substance that should never be found in a horse’s system and is deemed by the FEI to have no legitimate use in equine medicine.
  • There are over 1,000 substances listed on the FEI website under banned or controlled substance, which is regularly updated and can be view on feicleansport.org.
  • It is important to be aware that the FEI also includes any substance with a similar chemical structure or which has a similar effect as a substance on the list as a banned substance.
  • Riders should be very careful and work closely with their veterinarians when administering any substances. These lists exist to protect horse and rider as well as the integrity of the sport.

    • NOPS

    A Naturally Occurring Prohibited Substance is a substance that is either naturally present within certain feed ingredients or that occurs as a result of unintentional cross contamination during processing before arriving at the feed manufacturer’s facility.

    NOPS can be found in small quantities in raw materials and forages. The term NOPS refers to a defined list of substances that tend to occur most frequently in feed or feed ingredients. This list was compiled by the British Equestrian Trade Association (BETA) together with the racing authorities in Europe. It does not refer to all prohibited substances that occur naturally.

    NOPS SCHEME

    BETA operates an assurance scheme covering finished feeds, supplements and raw materials. The NOPS assurance scheme helps manufacturers and raw material / ingredient suppliers evaluate the risk of a NOPS contamination during every step from sourcing, storage, transport and manufacturing.

    This code applies to all equine products that will be ingested by the horse (eg: feed, supplements). Many feed and supplement companies now comply with the code and those that do so can be identified by the NOPS image on their packaging (see NOPS logo above). A list of these companies can be found on the BETA website.

    CONTAMINATION

    As NOPS can be found in raw materials which are used in the production of horse feed and forages, careful monitoring of raw materials is required. Farming and harvesting methods cannot remove the risk of contamination from other plant materials entirely.

    It is the manufacturer’s responsibility to assess and test raw materials for any contamination. Companies complying with the BETA NOPS Quality Assurance Scheme will have actively addressed these concerns through quality control measures and testing of materials.

    The testing technologies used in the Red Mills lab are the same as those used by the Olympic Council and forensic bodies around the world. We use Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (LCMS) to ensure strict compliance with the regulations of the leading sporting bodies such as the FEI, BHA and Irish Turf Club.

    We test all incoming raw materials and each batch of manufactured horse feeds using this technology. Our products are subject to a ‘positive release’ quality control process, meaning each batch is only released for distribution once the testing is complete. We also use a batch-tracking system, which allow us to instantly check the manufacturing provenance of any Red Mills products.

    NOPS contamination within a yard can occur through substances used by humans, for example caffeine and chocolate. So it is important to ensure feed is stored and handled correctly. Supplements, particularly those that are herbal based, also carry a risk of contamination by nature.

    HERBS

    Herbs can be a confusing topic as many will believe these are the ‘safe’ option. However, they can also contain prohibited substances. The FEI “caution athletes, trainers, grooms and veterinarians against the use of herbal medication, tonics, oral and pastes”. This is particularly important on products where the ingredients and quantities are unknown as this puts them at a risk of containing one or more prohibited substances.

    There are several prohibited and naturally occurring herbal ingredients that are not on BETA’s NOPS list and, in these situations, a NOPS member must flag them up with a warning on packaging and a withdrawal period where appropriate to avoid the inadvertent use in competition or racing. Again, looking for products with the ‘NOPS’ logo will help limit the risk of a product containing prohibited substances.

    RESPONSIBILITY

    The trainer (in racing) or rider (sport horse) is considered responsible for the horse and will be the person held accountable if a horse is found to test positive for a prohibited substance. This is also the case if a horse is only borrowed for a competition.

    Therefore, caution should always be taken when choosing someone to care for your horses and also when competing on borrowed horses. If the rider is under 18, their parent or legal guardian will be the person responsible on their behalf, however, the young person will still be eliminated from the competition.

    If a horse requires a controlled substance just before or during a competition, the rider, groom or team veterinarian must contact the FEI official vet to request permission. They must then fill out a request form and on the basis of this the official FEI vet will decide if the horse may compete or not. This horse may still be tested.

    SAFE TO USE

    This is a much shorter list than the prohibited substance list. B-vitamins, amino acids and electrolytes are not currently listed on the prohibited substance list and may be used during competition.

    These are usually administered orally, however, in some circumstances a vet may prefer to administer them intravenously or intramuscularly. Joint therapies that are used as a prevention or restorative function such as chondroitin and glucosamine are also not listed under the prohibited substance list.

    SUMMARY

    With a growing list of controlled and banned substances, and with increasingly sensitive testing technologies, the rider or trainer faces a considerable challenge in terms of ensuring a horse is at all times compliant with regulations.

    Accidental contaminations within a yard via human foods, equine or human medications, or from purchased products such as feeds or supplements have serious consequences. Good yard management at home and at competition is essential, as is purchasing products from a reputable manufacturer with clear ingredient information and quality control measures to reduce the risk of NOPS contamination. If in doubt about the origin of a product or its safety for use within the sport a rider or trainer should contact the manufacturer or consult with their veterinarian before use.

    I would like to thank BETA for their assistance and providing information for this article.

    Laura Hoey, Equine Nutritionist at Connolly’s Red Mills.

    Tel: 01 386552066