Horses Allowed to Compete on Bute!? Tumult at FEI General Assembly

Wed, 11/18/2009 - 00:00
FEI Dressage News

The FEI General Assembly hasn't caused such a stir in recent years than this afternoon at the 2009 Assembly in Copenhagen. Today the clean sport committee made the shocking proposal of allowing horses to compete on a low level of painkillers.

This is a complete changeover from the zero-tolerance policy the FEI has been advocating passionately for years.

Today's workshop included a presentation by Prof. Arne Ljungqvist and Lord Stevens on the Joint-Commission’s recommendations, followed by presentations by FEI Veterinary Director Graeme Cooke (on the proposed new Prohibited Substances List); FEI General Counsel Lisa Lazarus (proposed new FEI Anti-Doping and Controlled Medication Rules); and FEI Director of Education and Standards Harald Muller (Drug Information Database). A steaming debate followed when national federations and media were allowed to ask questions and make statements.

Two new lists were disclosed at the meeting. The first list contains the substances which are considered doping and for which there is a zero-tolerance. The second list of controlled medication would now include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAIDs), such as phenylbutazone (bute), flunixin and aspirin of which low levels would be allowed in horses at competition.

Both lists need to be approved by approximately 100 National Federations via voting at the Assembly tomorrow.

British magazine Horse and Hound reported on the commotion at the Assembly. "If the FEI accepts this, there will be uproar in many countries," warned Bo Helander of Sweden. "It's completely unacceptable for horse welfare, and changes the whole philosophy of the FEI."

"Let's talk about doping and not doping again," urged Ulf Helgstrand, president of the Danish equestrian federation. "If we introduce the list I'm afraid the public and sponsors will shoot us down and say we only want to stop the number of positive tests." According to Horse and Hound Frank Kempermann, general director of CHIO Aachen and Dressage Task Force chair, warned he would lose sponsors, adding: "I can't understand how this proposal can be made."

Barbados, France, Norway, Germany, America and Ireland added their voices of dissent.

There was only one voice of support — a vet from South Africa who asked why, if a horse steps on stone or suffers mild colic the day before a big competition can bute not be given. "If it happened to a human, he would be allowed to take Voltaren and ride," he said. "It is so expensive to get a horse to an event, we should be able to treat."

Source: Horse and Hound

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