Great Britain: Lord Stevens unveils radical proposals for equestrianism

Telegraph.co.uk - Full Article

By Pippa Cuckson
02 Sep 2009

Tougher stable security, more paid officials and an independent integrity unit to maintain a "corruption-free" environment are among radical proposals for equestrianism from former Metropolitan Police chief, Lord Stevens.

Stevens headed-up the International Equestrian Federation's new ethics panel in May. His recommendations were published on the same day that former Olympic dressage champion Isabell Werth was handed a six-month ban after her horse, Whisper, tested positive for an anti-psychotic.

Many recommendations are aimed at speeding up communication processes, minimising "conflicts of interest" through over-reliance on multi-tasking volunteers, and tightening up apparently casual procedures; horses have been medicated during championships without written permission.

Princess Haya – the wife of the ruler of Dubai – was elected to the FEI presidency on a clean-sport platform and initially set up a commission under Professor Arne Ljungqvist, vice-president of the World Anti-Doping Agency.

However, the FEI was wrong-footed this spring by the positive dope tests returned on endurance horses ridden by Princess Haya's husband, Sheikh Mohammed, and his son, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohd Maktoum.

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