FEI prepares to vote in new anti-doping program

International Equestrian Federation members will vote this week on cleaning up the sport's drug problems.

Proposals include creating an independent investigations unit, improving stables security at top events and educating riders about 1,000 substances that are banned for use on horses in competition.

FEI leaders hope victory in Thursday's poll at their general assembly in Copenhagen will address doping issues that have marred equestrian events at recent Olympics.

They aim to have no failed drug tests at the 2012 London Games when equestrian will mark 100 years on the Olympic program.

“That is the ultimate goal,” FEI legal director Lisa Lazarus said. “There is no reason to have any positive violations in London if everything is working properly.”

If approved, the rules will take effect in January and the first big test would be the 2010 World Equestrian Games in the United States. World championships in eight disciplines will be held Sept. 25-Oct. 10 in Lexington, Ky.

The changes took one year to produce after the FEI ordered two special commissions and consulted the sport's stakeholders. FEI secretary general Alex McLin said the 133 national federations supported the modernizing program.

“It's been extremely positive,” he said. “There's been no doubt that this was something that needs to be done.”

Arne Ljungqvist, a leading anti-doping expert, led a review of the FEI's testing procedures that many riders said were unclear and led to horses testing positive for substances that were permitted in training.

The commissions have jointly called for an integrity unit, more targeted out-of-competition tests and requiring riders to log each horse's drug treatments.