Doping : Respecting Good practices

There are two different categories of substance.

« Forbidden substances »

« Forbidden » sustances can in no case be administered to a  racing or competition horse. This covers any substance which could act on one or several of a mammal’s body systems. (Nervous system, cardio-vascular, respiratory, digestive, urinary, reproductive, musculo-skeletal, endocrinal, hemolymphatic, blood circualtion, immune (except for authorized vaccines)). EPO ( erythropoetin) is an example of a forbidden substance. Masking agents are also forbidden.

« Prohibited » substances

Therapeutical substances (medicines),  when prescribed by a veterinarian and when the horse’s health justifies administration. Their detection through testing a horse in training will not give rise to any sanctions if the treatment is supported by a prescription (which should be kept for at least 5 years in the farm register). These substances should not however be detected in an animal once declared as taking part in a  gallop or trotter race, nor on the day of the competition for sport horses. These are « prohibited » substances.
Contanminants present in horse feed or feed supplements. For example : caffeine contained in cocoa or coffee.

For more information :
•    For trotter racing horses
•    For gallop racing horses
•    For sport horses

The trainer in racing or the rider and/or the owner of the horse for equestrian sports are considered responsible when a « prohibited » or « forbidden » substance is detected in a horse. It is therefore up to them to make sure everything is done for this not to happen.

Stable and staff management

Oral treatment administered to horses can leave residual traces in the feeding or drinking troughs. Likewise, most substances will be found in urine and droppings. An untreated horse can therefore be contaminated in the stable.

It is therefore essential to :

• Empty and decontaminate a loose box (drinking and feed troughs included) before putting another horse in it. Do the same for the trailer/ horse truck after each transport ;

• Do not swap loose boxes between horses in the yard;

• Keep specific boxes for horses undergoing a treatment, so as to keep them apart from the others;

• Do not feed any products directly in the mangers : use buckets which can quickly be decontaminated afterwards.

In addition, pay special attention to stable staff. The staff can in fact contaminate a horse with molecules present in commonly used products for humans : medical treatment, illicit substances, but also quite simply food and drink destined for human consumption (coffee, bars of chocolate…). 

The following measures should be implemented:

• Inform the staff of the risk of involuntary contamination due to human treatments or to food and drink;
• Forbid eating or drinking any food or drink destined for human consumption in the stables;
• Forbid giving the horses any food which is not specifically destined for them;
• Require of the staff to wash their hands thoroughly, or to wear disposable gloves when handling any treatments, whether human or equine.
• Be informed if any member of staff is undergoing medical treatment.
• Inform the staff that urinating in a loose box is strictly forbidden.

Special care should be taken with any person from the outside, who could contaminate the horse with malicious intent, or simply by accident.

Care management

Administering any treatment should be done with necessary caution so as to avoid contaminating the other horses, but also to ensure that the substances will be eliminated by the time the horse is back in competition or racing (detection time for « prohibited » molecules).

Strictness is necessary :

• Do not auto medicate : call a veterinarian and make sure he is aware that the horse is a competitor. Discuss the upcoming competitions with him and the doping delay associated to the treatment;
• Scrupulously keep any prescriptions for at least 5 years, and number them in sequence;
• Keep any medicine in a locked medicine cabinet, in a safe place
• Prefer injectable medicines, they limit contamination of the environment;
• Be very strict with the material used: use disposables (seringes, gloves…) ;
• Be careful when administering these treatments: appoint one person to be in charge of implementing them, and record in writing after each treatment (e.g. card on the door of the loose box)..

Feeding management

Horse feed may be contaminated with unwanted molecules if certain measures are not taken. Therefore one should :

• Use feeds manufactured by a supplier committed to quality and able to guarantee the composition of the feed , and consequently the absence of unwanted substances;
• Store the feed in a closed feed room, and do not keep the medicine cabinet and grooming or care material in the same place;
• Be very careful regarding he composition of any feed given to the horses, more particularly feed supplements

See the fact sheet by the French Equine Nutrition club Club de Nutrition Equine Français (CNEF)

Precautions on the racecourse and at competitions

With any movement comes an additional risk of contamination. One should therefore exercise particular caution :

• Demand that the loose box provided be cleaned out, disinfected  and make sure it is clean before putting your horse in it;
• Use your own personal material;
• Make sure that no-one urinates in the loose box or anywhere near;

• Keep an eye on or forbid any stranger from entering the stable and make sure no-one approaches or feeds the horse;

• Keep a constant eye on your horses.

Screening test

A screening test can be carried out by the LCH (Laboratoire des Courses Hippiques- Horse racing laboratory) to ensure that any medication administered on veterinary prescription has been completely eliminated. A copy of the justifying prescription for the treatment must be provided. It is not possible to test for « forbidden » substances.