Equestrian: Fury grows after FEI drop zero tolerance on doping
Thursday November 26 2009
A tsunami of international protest continues to grow following the decision to scrap zero tolerance and instead permit the use of drugs in competition horses.
At last Wednesday's FEI (International Equestrian Federation) general assembly in Copenhagen, delegates voted in favour of a 'Progressive List' of six drugs including the painkillers Phenylbutazone (Bute), Flunixin and Salicylic Acid (aspirin). Bute has been banned for 20 years.
When the list was first discussed last week, many delegates stood firmly against it and HSI chairman, Joe Walsh, suggested it should be shelved pending further discussion.
However, the following day, it was put to the vote and approved by a margin of 53 to 48. Live on FEI television, the groans of dismay from around the Copenhagen conference room could clearly be heard.
Walsh said afterwards that he was "uncomfortable with the whole process which led to the new list being adopted," because it was circulated only a few days before the Assembly so there was no time to run it past vets, affiliate bodies or the equestrian community.
The decision "will tarnish the sport and will be seen as a slippery slope," he added.
controversy
Ironically, all the good work that went into creating the new Clean Sport Programme -- overseen by former Metropolitan Police Commissioner Lord Stevens and passed by the delegates earlier in the day -- has been overwhelmed by the so-called 'Bute' controversy.
Former FEI secretary general, Bo Helander, of Sweden warned: "There will be uproar in many countries and huge consequences for the whole sport" and Aachen show director, Frank Kempermann, expressed major concerns about how sponsors and the public will react.
German equestrian sport has already been hard-hit this year, with event coverage withdrawn by television companies who are disgusted by a long series of drug scandals.
And even the FEI's first vice-president, Sven Holmberg, expressed his dismay -- the new list would "cut the legs off" the Clean Sport process, he insisted.
In some countries the use of these drugs is a criminal offence and this week an internet petition calling for a reversal of the decision was followed by a letter of protest from leading international vets including the former chairman of the FEI Veterinary Committee, Leo Jeffcott.
Yesterday, the organisers at Aachen defiantly announced that Bute will be banned from its 2010 fixture. "We do not want unsound or injured horses in our sport" said general manager, Michael Mronz.
- Louise Parkes
Irish Independent
