The FEI has put a lot of resource and effort into looking closely at doping and medication issues in equestrian sport. These efforts began when several Athletes came to the FEI President and explained to her that they were confused by the current rules and wanted a better system because they were firmly committed to clean sport. This initiative from the Athletes led first to the creation of the Clean Sport Commission chaired by Professor Ljungqvist and then ultimately to the Stevens Commission chaired by Lord Stevens.

The FEI’s new anti-doping regulation system, which we are very proud of, brings together the viewpoints and expertise of the entire FEI Family and the professional recommendations of both the Ljungqvist and Stevens Commissions (now called the "Joint-Commissions"). It is built around the fact that the vast majority of you – the Athletes – compete with horses free of Prohibited Substances and want a clean sport so that everyone is judged on a fair and level playing field.

In order to demystify the complexities of the new Equine Anti-Doping and Controlled Medication Regulations (EADCMRs), we have produced an Athlete’s Guide, which explains the key provisions of the regulations in easy-to-understand language. You can read the Athlete’s Guide by clicking on the link in the Download Centre on the left-hand side of this page. You can also check out the EADCMRs in the Resource Centre.

AT THE HEART OF CLEAN SPORT

Following the delayed implementation of the Prohibited Substances List and the accompanying Equine Anti-Doping and Controlled Medication Regulations until 5 April 2010, which of the Joint-Commissions Recommendations were implemented on 1 January 2010 and which ones were delayed until 5 April 2010?

A series of recommendations from the Ljungqvist Commission and the Stevens Commission, which were aligned to form the Joint-Commission Recommendations at a meeting in Copenhagen on 9 October 2009, are at the heart of the FEI Clean Sport Campaign. These recommendations received overwhelming support from delegates at the FEI General Assembly on 19 November 2009.

The FEI Bureau subsequently passed a resolution delaying implementation of the new Equine Anti-Doping and Controlled Medication Regulations (EADCMR) and the Equine Prohibited Substances List until 5 April 2010 to allow for a period of consultation and debate.

Implementation of the Veterinary Regulations was also delayed until 5 April 2010 because of the significant overlap between those Regulations, the EADCMRs and the List.

The recommendations of the Clean Sport Commission that were not related to the Regulations or the List went ahead as planned on 1 January 2010. The table below highlights which recommendations moved forward as planned and which were delayed until 5 April 2010.