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Jockey receives two-year suspension
endurance riding
Endurance riding is based on controlled long-distance races. (stock photo)

FEI publishes decision on prohibited substance case

The FEI tribunal has published its final decision regarding samples taken from the horse Lunatica in Doha on 2 May 2015. The rider, Abdulla Mahmood Abdulla Darban rode the horse into fourth position in the CEI1 endurance event.

The horse returned positive samples for Propranolol and Dexamethasone, both prohibited under the FEI’s Equine Anti-Doping and Controlled Medication Rules (EADCMRs).

The Qatar based athlete also received a fine of CHF 2,000 and was ordered to contribute to the cost of the judicial proceedings. His ban will take immediate effect and run until 22 June 2017.

Propranolol, which is a beta-blocker used to lower the heart rate, is on the FEI’s banned substance list, and should therefore never be found in a competing horse’s system.  

As a controlled medication, the corticosteroid Dexamethasone is on the controlled medication list, and should have been cleared from the horse’s system by the time of competing.

The report states that the athlete acted in violation of the FEI’s Equine Anti-Doping rules and that the rider has “failed in his duty of utmost caution to ensure that the Horse has not ingested any Prohibited Substance.”

The rider must take any appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in the next 30 days.

Image © olgaru79

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Applications open for MMI research grants

News Story 1
 RCVS' Mind Matters Initiative (MMI) has launched round two of its veterinary mental health research grants.

Researchers have until 11.59pm on Wednesday, 28 May 2025 to apply for a grant for research which reflects MMI's 2025 focus areas.

Only one Impact Grant was awarded last year, and so this year there are two Discovery Grants and one Impact Grants available. Each Discovery Grant is worth £5,000 and the Impact Grant is worth £15,000.

For more information or to apply, email researchgrants@rcvs.org.uk to contact the MMI team.

 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
BBC Radio 4 documentary addresses corporate fees

BBC Radio 4's File on 4 Investigates has released a documentary exploring how corporate-owned veterinary practices may be inflating bills to increase profit.

Released on 15 April, 'What's Happening To Your Vet Bills?' revealed the policies which many corporate groups have in place to increase their profits. This included targets and upgrades which veterinary teams are tasked with meeting on a regular basis.

It also features Anrich Vets, an independently-owned practice based in Wigan. Following the case of Staffordshire terrier Benjy, who is diagnosed with a tumour, the documentary shares how the team were able to offer contextualised care and advice to make the procedure as affordable as possible for his owners.

The documentary can be heard on demand on BBC iPlayer.