UAE law to combat doping in equestrian sport

Abu Dhabi: A federal law to combat banned substances in equestrian sport was issued on Monday by the President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Federal law No. 7 of 2015 aims to combat the trade and use of these banned substances in equestrian sport in the UAE to ensure fair competition and eliminate cheating.

The law stipulates that trading these banned substances is prohibited without a valid licence from the Ministry of Environment and Water. The licence allows trade in controlled substances strictly for the purpose of research or treating horses.

The establishment responsible for research or treating horses must be licensed in the UAE and must receive prior approval from the Emirates Racing Authority (ERA) for using these controlled substances. The establishment applying for the licence must abide by local and international rules, regulations and procedures in regards to such matters.

The law bans injecting or attempting to inject horses with these substances without the licence from the ministry, or any other such acts related to trading and using banned substances in the field of horse racing and equestrian sport in the UAE. The law also bans the rejection of subjecting horses to doping tests or tampering with the results of such tests or any regulative action. It also bans the use of illegal substances or any dealings with horseowners or inciting and covering up for them in any cases related to the use of these substances.

Those found to be violating the federal law will face a minimum fine of Dh20,000 and maximum of Dh200,000. If the offence is repeated within three years of the first instance of violation, the fine can rise to a maximum of Dh500,000. The law also permits taking administrative procedure on those breaking the law, including a three-year ban from participating or working in the field of equestrian sport. Any establishment violating the law will be shut down for three years and their licence will be cancelled.

The UAE cabinet issued executive regulations of the federal law, which includes 11 articles detailing laws and procedures regulating the implementation of the law. The regulation named ERA as the authority entrusted with implementing the law and lays out the ERA’s duties and terms and conditions on the subject.