The use of substances with the potential to affect equine performance, health or welfare and/or with a high potential for misuse are contrary to the integrity of equestrian sport and the welfare of the horses.
The FEI provides a list of substances prohibited for use in horses competing at FEI events – the FEI Equine Prohibited Substances List. This list consists of two groups of substances: banned and controlled medication. Banned substances are not permitted for use in horses competing. Controlled medications are acknowledged as substances with therapeutic veterinary benefits but are not permitted during FEI events because of the potential for their misuse.
Testing programmes and protocols are implemented to detect the presence of prohibited substances in horses competing. Urine and/or blood samples from horses tested are sent by courier to one of five FEI Laboratories.
Negative blood and urine analysis results within the programme are updated regularly on the website for Groups I and II only and can be accessed here.
Before giving any substance to a horse competing at FEI events, athletes and their support personnel should always check, if it is prohibited under the FEI Rules by using the FEI Prohibited Substances database. They should work with veterinary advisers to establish a safe withdrawal time before competing. Horses must never compete unless they are fit to do so. During events, the administration of treatments and supportive therapies must be authorised by the veterinary delegate or commission before administration, using the appropriate veterinary form. The veterinary forms are available by clicking here.
Permitted Substances of interest to equine feed industry
The FEI Rules and Regulations permit the use of certain substances such as:
- B-vitamins, amino acids and electrolytes. These have always been allowed orally and in many cases this is still the preferred route of administration. However in some circumstances a veterinarian may prefer to administer them intravenously or intramuscularly.
- Preventative or restorative joint therapies. Many of these products in the oral form (chondroitin, glucosamine, etc.) have always been allowed orally and in many cases this is the preferred route of administration. However in some circumstances a veterinarian may prefer to administer joint restorative therapy intravenously or intramuscularly.
The FEI cautions however athletes, trainers, grooms and veterinarians against the use of herbal medications, tonics, oral pastes and products of which the detailed ingredients and quantitative analysis are unknown and could therefore contain one or more Prohibited Substances. Moreover, the persons administering a herbal or so-called natural product to a horse or pony for health reasons or to affect its performance, who have been informed that the plant of origin or its ingredients do not violate the FEI regulations, may have been misinformed. The use of any herbal or natural product to affect the performance of a horse or pony in a calming (tranquillizing) or an energizing (stimulant) manner is expressly forbidden by the FEI regulations. The use of a calming product during competition may also have important safety consequences.
For the latest Equine Anti-Doping and Controlled Medication Regulations in place, please click here.
For medication control at FEI events, please refer to the Veterinary Regulations. We have added for your convenience the following educational documents: Athletes' Guide to Anti-Doping (pdf) and How Testing Works (pdf).Information on FEI Laboratories:
Other useful links:
- Prohibited Substances List
- List of Detection Times (pdf)
- FAQs on FEI process for EADCM procedures (pdf)
- QUOTED FROM HERE
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