For the first time in the history of anti-doping and medication control at the Olympic Games, Post-Arrival Elective Testing (PAET) will be made available to the participants in the Olympic and Paralympic equestrian events held in Hong Kong. The objective of this procedure is to minimise inadvertent medication violations at the Olympic and Paralympic equestrian events by assisting the competitors to determine whether or not residues of legitimate medications are present in urine samples collected from their competition horses immediately upon their arrival in Hong Kong.

This unique initiative, which is a major step in the fight to prevent positive test results, has been made possible by the commitment of the FEI and the capabilities of the Hong Kong Jockey Club Racing Laboratory. 

Post-Arrival Elective Testing is a VOLUNTARY testing service provided by the FEI’s Reference Laboratory in Hong Kong, i.e., the Hong Kong Jockey Club Racing Laboratory, to all competitors of the 2008 Olympic and Paralympic equestrian events. All horses (competition and reserve) can have their urine samples checked for the medications listed at the end of this document. The possible maximum is of about 230 Olympic and 75 Paralympic PAET samples.

How will PAET work?

To make use of this service, a urine sample (not blood) must be collected, labelled and submitted together with a completed application form (Medication Form PAET) within 12 hours of arrival of the horse at the Olympic Post Arrival Isolation (PAI) stables in Sha Tin. Security guards of the Hong Kong Jockey Club will receive the collected and labelled urine samples on site together with the completed application forms and deliver them to the HKJC Racing Laboratory immediately for testing. The laboratory reserves the right to refuse the PAET service for any sample (such as late samples, samples with inadequate volumes, i.e. a volume less than 100ml, etc.). In such a case, a rejection notification will be sent to the Contact Person provided on the application form, and the sample will be destroyed.

How will the results be announced?

Provided that not more than 20% of the PAET samples will be tested positive, the normal turnaround time for these samples (including the positive ones) should be three to five days from sample receipt at the HKJC Racing Laboratory. The confidential test reports (limited to qualitative, positive or negative, results only) will be transmitted to the relevant team vet or representative as per details on the PAET application form. It should be noted that the test results are unofficial and for reference only.

The FEI has requested that results of PAET be reported to it in anonymous fashion after the end of all competitions.

Sanctions

No sanctions will be imposed for medications found in the PAET samples.

The results of PAET are unofficial and for reference purposes only.

What is the cost of PAET? Who will pay for the service?

The testing of the first urine sample will be paid for by the FEI and will therefore be free of charge for the competitors.

After receiving the PAET results, the Person Responsible might wish to submit a sample at his/her own expenses to follow up on any medication(s) detected. For details, please refer to the document, Elective Testing (in Hong Kong) - Important Conditions and Requirements, available on the FEI website.

List of substances tested through PAET

PAET will be undertaken only for the following substances (or their metabolites), which are legitimate medications, i.e. the FEI "medication box" substances and those within the scope of FEI Elective Testing at the normal sensitivity of analysis as for the official Medication Control samples.

These tests will not cover doping agents and any medications not on the scope of FEI Elective Testing.

The HKJC Racing Laboratory will continue to accept Elective testing samples up to its maximum capacity of about eight per day. 

Tim will be responsible for the planning, organisation and management of the Olympic and Paralympic Equestrian events in 2012 – Jumping, Dressage, and Eventing.

Commenting on his appointment Tim said: "I'm thrilled to have this once in a lifetime opportunity to be involved in delivering the equestrian sports for the London Games. The site at Greenwich is spectacular and I’m confident that 2012 will be a unique and amazing experience for everyone involved. I look forward to working with local residents, the equestrian world, and all our stakeholders to make the events a huge success. We have so much expertise in this country which I intend to draw on as we build a team to work on the event.” 

The International Equestrian Federation (FEI) Secretary General Alex McLin commented: “The FEI is very pleased with the appointment of a person with Tim’s knowledge of horsesport as the Equestrian Competition Manager for London 2012. The fact that this is a full-time function will allow for the detailed consideration of all the organisational aspects of the sport. The FEI is looking forward to exceptional Olympic and Paralympic Equestrian events to be held in the heart of London. This will undoubtedly provide a strong legacy in increased interest and participation in horsesport across London the UK as a whole.”

Andrew Finding, Chief Executive of the British Equestrian Federation (BEF) said: “I am delighted for Tim. He has undertaken some outstanding work for the Federation in the last few years. He is knowledgeable, thoughtful, caring and consultative in his approach. He will be a great asset as our sport’s Competition Manager. The BEF also fully supports the choice of Greenwich Park as London 2012’s venue for equestrian events.”

Tim’s responsibilities include the overseeing of all aspects of the equestrian events, ensuring they are organised in accordance with FEI rules, the Olympic Charter and the Host City Contract. He will be the focal point for liaison with the FEI and the BEF, and he will be working with all functional areas to ensure the coordinated delivery of a wide range of support services such as the design of the venue, operational aspects, accreditation, transport and organisation of volunteers. Tim will start his role in October.

Having ridden for much of his life, Tim worked as a cross country course builder, moving on to course design and in to event management, becoming Director of Blair Castle International Horse Trials in the 1990s. In 1996, he was appointed Technical Advisor for British Eventing, and in 2002 became Sport and Technical Manager responsible for the management and development of the sport.

More recently as consultant to the BEF, Tim has advised on matters relating to increasing levels of participation, facilities development and the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, liaising on projects such as the Pre-Games Training Camp identification process. His work for the BEF has included a successful funding application which will result in £1.4m being invested in to grass root equestrian sport over the next three years.

Tim travelled to Hong Kong as part of a team of FEI International Specialists to work on the Cross Country phase of the Olympic test event in 2007 and will return as part of the same team for the Olympic Games in August.

His other international experience includes:

- Eventing Manager at Bramham International Horse Trials working alongside London 2012 Course Designer Sue Benson;
- Establishing the British Eventing Premier League linking up the top International Events including Badminton and Burghley Horse Trials;
- Equestrian Sport Volunteer at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games;
- Supporting the Technical Delegate, recruiting and leading a team of Eventing experts from Britain to help deliver the cross country phase of the 2006 Asian Games in Qatar;
- FEI Technical Delegate including Assistant Technical Director at Blenheim and Bramham Three Day Events, and Technical Director at Houghton Hall.

For further information please contact the London 2012 Press Office on +44 (0)203 2012 100 or visit the website at www.london2012.com.