FEI suspends introduction of the 'Progressive List'
The International Equestrian Federation (FEI) has announced that it will allow further debate of the proposed introduction of the 'Progressive List' at the next General Assembly in November. The list permitted the limited use in competition of currently prohibited drugs like phenylbutazone.
'We are very pleased about this decision', commented EA CEO Franz Venhaus. 'The FEI Bureau promptly moved this way once it appreciated the deep divisions it had tapped within equestrian sport and the range of emotions it had unleashed with the 'Progressive List' proposal.'
'Clearly, by only giving the General Assembly a few days' notice of its intention to put the use of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) in competition to a vote, the FEI had failed its own governance standards. We note that the FEI regrets this and will now permit full debate on the issue once all of the information and science is in and laid before the Federations and they have had time to discuss it with their own constituencies.'
The FEI will now introduce a new Equine Anti-Doping and Controlled Medication Regulations in April 2010 together with the lists originally published with the new system. The Regulations and the recommendations of two 'Clean Sport 'commissions had overwhelming support of National Federations at the 2009 General Assembly.
'This decision makes sense', EA President Paul Cargill added. 'National Federations needed to have the opportunity to debate any major change from the present drug regime. We need science to support any proposed change in direction, and at present we have not seen anything to convince us that this is the right way to go. But all of that is in the future and what EA members need to clearly understand is that for the here and now, the use of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) in competition is and remains banned and compliance will be vigorously enforced by EA through regular and systematic testing in competition and relentless prosecution of alleged offenders under our rules.'
The full FEI Press Release "Use of NSAIDS to be put to vote at 2010 General Assembly" can be found at www.fei.org
