DOPING tests for athletes will be rolled out in all disciplines at national level, according to Irish show jumping team doctor and member of the Irish Sport Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel (ISADDP) Dr Mary Flannery.
Speaking to The Irish Field this week, Dr Flannery was keen to encourage riders to familiarise themselves with the banned substance list and to check any medications they are using, saying they are likely to see more doping control officers at smaller shows this season.
“Up until now, they (World Anti Doping Authority) have been testing at the bigger shows like Tattersalls and the Dublin Horse Show, but we are likely to see them attend smaller national shows now – any sort of event,” Dr Flannery said.
While members of the high performance squads are well aware of the risks of medications, supplements and Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUE), Dr Flannery fears that members of Showjumping Ireland, Eventing Ireland and other affiliates to HSI may not be alert to the seriousness of doping.
According to Sport Ireland human anti-doping rules, any individuals who are members of a National Governing Body, in this case Horse Sport Ireland, or a member of an affiliated body to HSI are subject to testing.
“Every athlete who is affiliated to Horse Sport Ireland is liable to be tested for doping – it applies to everyone who is getting money from Sport Ireland – from the Irish Pony Society to the top-level show jumping. We have been talking about this for a few years now but it’s really important that people are aware of it – not just the high performance squad members,” the team doctor added. If riders look up the e-learning document on the Sport Ireland website, it will give them all the information and there are other brilliant websites like eirpharm.com, which is also available as a phone app.
“The Sports Council have produced these fabulous little wallet cards that tell you what medication you can take and they are excellent for a quick reference – I will bring a bundle of them to Millstreet this weekend and give them out.
“I am a bit worried that this information is not getting out to the ordinary people.”
National riders who test positive for a banned substance will receive a minimum suspension of two years.
Dr Flannery stressed the need for athletes who are using medication for therapeutic reasons to check the list of prohibited substances and apply for an exemption from Sport Ireland. International riders and those on the high performance squads must submit the exemption form to the FEI.
“Riders have no fall back if they haven’t applied for an exemption for therapeutic medication. The minimum suspension is two years, and it could be four years – most riders could not afford to be suspended for that long.
“I think they are giving out about 5,000 international licences between all the disciplines. Every one of those athletes have to fill a medical questionnaire and they have to let me know if anything changes. For example, if someone is on the wrong inhaler – if doctor says they really need it, then they will get an exemption, but if we can change it we will. It’s a very important part of the sport,” Flannery said.
She added that she was shocked to learn some riders on the circuit don’t have personal insurance: “I was horrified the first year I spoke to some of the guys – so few of them have personal insurance. Athletes cannot afford not to have it.”
Meanwhile, it’s understood that the HSE has leased an Air Ambulance which could be called upon to aid riders should they need to be transferred to hospital urgently.
RESOURCES
More information at:
www.eirpharm.com
www.sportireland.ie/antidoping
www.globaldro.com