Doping control in European racing the role played by the EHSLC
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By Dr Paull Khan
AN Q&A INTERVIEW WITH HENRI POURET,
CHAIR OF THE EUROPEAN HORSERACING SCIENTIFIC LIAISON COMMITTEE
In this issue, we continue our series of Question and Answer sessions with the chairs of international committees in the European and Mediterranean regions. We began (Issue 72) with the subject of classifying the major, Black Type races across Europe, with our interview with the chair of the European Pattern Committee, Brian Kavanagh. Here, we move on to the subject of doping control, which is the remit of the European Horserace Scientific Liaison Committee. Its chair, Henri Pouret, answers your questions.
The EHSLC lists these amongst its Terms of Reference:
With the aim of achieving uniformity of approach, to provide advice to the Racing Authorities of the member countries on policy, scientific and procedural matters concerning the Rules of Racing as they relate to prohibited substances.
To recommend alterations to the Rules of Racing as they relate to prohibited substances.
To recommend common policies and procedures where appropriate in the areas of sample collection, sample testing (including confirmatory analysis) and prohibited substances, and to monitor compliance by the member countries with these policies and procedures.
To agree whether specified drugs fall within the List of Prohibited Substances.
To recommend the need, where appropriate, for new or varied threshold levels, for inclusion in the Rules of Racing.
To promote liaison and discussion between the official racing laboratories and the official racing veterinary surgeons of the member countries.
To promote inter-laboratory drug testing programmes, and to monitor the results vis-à-vis the official racing laboratories of the member countries.
To agree with research priorities and to promote joint approaches, where appropriate, for their achievement.
To publish detection periods, agreed jointly between the official racing laboratories and other interested parties in the member countries for therapeutic drugs commonly used in the horse.
To exchange drug intelligence and other relevant information between the member countries.
Pouret, who has a background in law, is the Deputy CEO of France Galop, in charge of racing and also represents France on the International Federation of Horseracing Authority’s (IFHA’s) Harmonisation of Racing Rules Committee.
Q: Let’s get some definitions out of the way first. One of the EHSLC’s Terms of Reference is ‘to recommend the need, where appropriate, for new or varied threshold levels, for inclusion in the Rules of Racing’. What is the difference between a ‘threshold level’ and a ‘screening limit’?
‘Threshold level’ and ‘screening limits’ are two critical indicators for doping control determined in urine and/or plasma.
A ‘threshold level’ is a numerical figure adopted by racing authorities for endogenous substances produced by horses and for some plants traditionally grazed and harvested to horses as feed. International thresholds are recommended by the IFHA’s Advisory Council on Equine Prohibited Substances and Practices and approved by the IFHA Executive Council.
A ‘screening limit’ (SL) is also a numerical figure determined by experts for legitimate therapeutic substances. Some are harmonised internationally and some are harmonised regionally (e.g,. within EHSLC for Europe).
Both ‘threshold level’ and ‘screening limit’ are applied by racing laboratories as a reference for the reporting of positive findings.
Q: On the IFHA website, there are lists published of ‘international screening limits’ and ‘residue limits’. How do these differ?…
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