First Meeting of Medication Advisory Group

In April 2005, the General Assembly of the FEI accepted the recommendation of the Task Force on Anti Doping and Medication Procedures, led by Bureau Member, Sven Holmberg (SWE). A Medication Advisory Group was set up under the Chairmanship of Dr Andrew Higgins (GBR) to examine detection times of commonly used therapeutic substances, laboratory sensitivity and how best to meet the needs of treating and team veterinarians responsible for horses in international competition.

The Medication Advisory Group held its first meeting on 27 June 2005 in Lausanne (SUI). The Group’s members are Jean-Maurice Bonneau (FRA, Chef d’Equipe of the French show-jumping team; German team veterinarian Dr Bjõrn Nolting (GER), Dr Kent Allen (USA, United States Equestrian Federation); Dr Marianne Sloet van Oldruitenborgh-Oosterbaan (NED) and the Directors of the Paris and Hong Kong forensic laboratories, Dr Yves Bonnaire (FRA) and Dr Terry Wan (HKG).

The aim of the Medication Advisory Group is to produce recommendations for the Bureau meeting in Bahrain in December 2005 and to establish procedures that can be enacted by 1st January 2006. The Group will review data on substances specified as medication that may be reasonably requested for treatment of a horse close to competition and to provide meaningful detection times. Knowledge about these substances, collectively known as `the Medicine Box`, should ensure that a horse needing veterinary treatment close to an event receives it, but without providing any unfair advantage in competition or compromising existing medication control objectives.

Two working groups were created: the first one will concentrate on the harmonisation of the four FEI Laboratories and the second one will study detection times for substances in the “Medicine Box” as listed by the Task Force on Anti Doping and Medication Policies.

For further information, contact the Head of the Veterinary Department, Dr Frits Sluyter:             +41 21 310 4747      .