The Equestrian Australia anti-doping policy is the Australian National Anti-Doping Policy, effective from 1 January 2021, and found here on the Sport Integrity Australia website. All members, participants and non-participants in the sport of Equestrian Australia are bound by these rules.
The Australian National Anti-Doping Policy definition of In-Competition is varied to align with the Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI) policy definition as follows:
In-Competition: The period commencing one (1) hour before the beginning of the first Horse inspection the day before a Competition in which the athlete/rider is scheduled to participate through to the end of the last Competition at the Event for that athlete/rider or the sample collection process related to such Competition.
All references in the Australian National Anti-Doping Policy to the In-Competition period should read as above.
Anti-doping is YOUR responsibility
It is important that all members, participants and non-participants in Equestrian are familiar with the anti-doping rules and comply with the Equestrian Australia Anti-doping Policy.
The Strict Liability rule states that all athletes are solely responsible for any substances found in their body, regardless of how it got there or who told them to take it. They do NOT take “I didn’t know” as an excuse!
There are 11 Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRV). Some relate to athletes only while others can also be given to support personnel such as coaches and staff.
The penalty for an anti-doping rule violation includes a ban from ALL sports, and does not just include competing. A ban means you can not coach, work in sport, make money from sport, or train with other athletes or coaches.
How do I check if my medication is allowed?
Remember to check ALL your medications, including those cold and flu tablets and anything else you bought over the counter!
Medications are regulated by law – they MUST label their active ingredients on the packet. Check whether your medications are prohibited or not by searching for the active ingredients on www.globaldro.com or go through the Sport Integrity Australia App. The website will tell you if it is prohibited or not, and whether it is prohibited in and/or out of competition.
NOTE: The WADA Prohibited list is updated every year on January 1, therefore it is important to check any medications every year.
More information can be found here: Prohibited substances and methods | Sport Integrity Australia
What if my medication is prohibited but I need to take it for medical reasons?
A Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) allows prohibited substances to be taken for legitimate medical reasons. If you require a prohibited medication for medical reasons and meet EITHER of the criteria below, you MUST apply for a Therapeutic Use Exemption IN ADVANCE from the FEI.
- Ranked in the world top 500 Jumping, world top 300 Dressage and Eventing, or world top 100 for all other disciplines
- On a Registered Testing Pool or Domestic Testing Pool
An exemption is not in place until written approval is received from the FEI and you should therefore submit your TUE application at least 30 days before your next competition. More information and the application form can be found here: Clean Sport for Humans - Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUEs) | FEI
If you do not meet the above criteria, you do NOT need to apply for an in-advance TUE and you can apply for one retroactively if you are tested and found to have the banned (but medically required) substance in your body. If you are tested and found to have a prohibited substance present that you can not prove is for medical reasons, you will receive an ADRV.
Supplements (including vitamins, protein shakes, health-food shop products, etc)
Supplements are the largest cause of unintentional doping cases in Australia. A study of common Australian supplements found 1 in 5 contained a prohibited substance!
The long standing advice is that no supplement is safe to use and athletes should not risk their careers by taking a supplement. This is because they may contain prohibited substances that are not listed on ingredient labels.
If a medical professional has diagnosed you with a deficiency and you must take a supplement, use the Sport Integrity App to find one that is low risk. However, they will never guarantee a supplement is 100% safe. More information can be found here: Supplements in sport | Sport Integrity Australia
Further information
Equestrian Australia’s Performance Support and Athlete Wellbeing Manager, Dr Alison Alcock, explains in this video taken from the Webinar held for members on the 1st February 2022, everything you need to know about your obligations for Human anti-doping, including information on how to check your own medications and sport supplements.
Watch EA Anti-Doping Webinar Now
Download the Sport Integrity Australia App for information on the rules, and links to check your medications and supplements.
Further information on human anti-doping can be found here:
Clean Sport for Humans | FEI
Clean Sport for Humans - Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUEs) | FEI
2021 World Anti-Doping Code | Sport Integrity Australia
Athlete Testing | Sport Integrity Australia
Anti-Doping Rule Violations and Process | Sport Integrity Australia
