Abu Dhabi: The Federal National Council on Tuesday passed a draft law meant to ensure doping-free horse racing and promote health, fairness and equality for horses and jockeys in the UAE.
The draft law aims at ensuring a harmonised and effective anti-doping programme is set up at the national level with regard to detection, deterrence and prevention of doping, according to a report made by an FNC panel.
The report said the draft law envisages protecting and promoting the horse racing industry and ensuring international sport ethics and standards are met. “The goal is to ensure that all participants in equestrian sports who violate the equine anti-doping and controlled medication regulations are held accountable,” says the report.
The law bans all drugs, unless they are licensed for use by the Ministry of Environment and Water or the authorities concerned, to treat specific medical conditions such as anti-inflammatories and muscle relaxants.
Offenders will face a minimum fine of Dh20,000, but not more than Dh100,000. Repeat offences within three years will carry a fine of up to Dh500,000, according to the draft law.
Authorities may also ban offenders from taking part in horse racing for three years, closing the offending sports facility for not more than three years or cancelling the licence of the offending facilities.
The bill, which requires to be endorsed into law by President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, will fight any illegal practices by stables which resort to injecting their horses with banned steroids in an effort to improve their racing performance.
Under existing laws, there are no rules governing the use of performance-enhancing drugs in horse racing around the world. However, the use of anabolic steroids are allowed out of competition in the UAE and Australia.
The draft law orders horse owners and breeders to take precautions to prevent horse doping and to immediately report any offence by any person or establishment to the authorities concerned.
Some 2,896 horses took part in races in the UAE in 2012, an increase of 36 per cent over the previous year, said the report of the House’s committee for foreign affairs, planning, oil, mineral, agricultural and fish wealth.
Members of the House said the bill was prompted by the fact that horses tested positive for banned substances in Al Wathba’s 160-km races in 2012 and 2013 and in Doha races in 2012.
They added the law also envisaged improving control of animal feed containing banned substances.
The executive rules, which will be issued within six months from the date the law takes effect, will list banned and controlled substances in horse racing.
The list of banned substances may be modified by a decision of the Minister of Environment and Water.
The law will take effect one day after publishing in the official gazette.
The Emirates Racing Authority (ERA), set up in 2006, is the internationally recognised governing body for horse racing in the UAE and it has been charged with carrying on the trade or business of racecourse management, encouraging horse breeding and horse ownership in the UAE and improving the quality of racing.
It is also tasked with organising, representing and promoting horse racing on an international basis.
ERA administers all aspects of the sport, including the implementation and application of the UAE rules of racing through its stewarding and veterinary departments. This also includes the licensing of all trainers, jockeys, officials and stable personnel. The ERA Registry Office manages and processes the registration of horses for racing, and all entries and declarations for all race meetings across the country.