Maybe a moneymaker for the FEI?

[StarDoozer]

I was just thinking about this... after reading that yet another horse has tested positive for doping... Don't you think it'd be interesting if the FEI offered "volunteer" samples- i.e. you could send a sample (having nothing to do with competing, just to "test") and see if it tested positive? I feel like so many riders use the wrong meds or meds stay in the horses system way longer than they're supposed to... Or maybe I'm just being naive... but I for one would certainly pay xx amount of dollars to send a random sample. Of course I'm not sure how long it takes for them to come back, but an interesting thought, no?

[Ambrey]

I think there is a belief that allowing pre-testing reduces the effectiveness of the random testing program.

But with so many therapeutic medications being found it definitely seems like it would make sense :(

[StarDoozer]

I guess it just made me nervous that it sounds like there are so many meds that are "supposed" to be out of the system in x number of days that are showing up in trace amounts MONTHs later... You know?

[caddym]

why not have your vet screen for you, I beleive the assays used are standard

[Geneva]

I was just thinking about this... after reading that yet another horse has tested positive for doping... Don't you think it'd be interesting if the FEI offered "volunteer" samples- i.e. you could send a sample (having nothing to do with competing, just to "test") and see if it tested positive? I feel like so many riders use the wrong meds or meds stay in the horses system way longer than they're supposed to... Or maybe I'm just being naive... but I for one would certainly pay xx amount of dollars to send a random sample. Of course I'm not sure how long it takes for them to come back, but an interesting thought, no?Have you never read the current FEI Veterinary Regulations? They already offer such an option, for 65-70 odd substances accepted by the FEI as having legitimate veterinary indications, and have done so for over three years now. In an unusual display of keeping their international competitors informed on FEI matters, here is the 2006 USEF memo (http://www.usef.org/documents/drugsMeds/memorandum.pdf) informing FEI riders of these new rules, which introduced the distinction between "medication" and "doping," as well as the new pre-testing protocol.

For Hong Kong, they waived the fee to encourage use of the pre-testing system. "Doping" class drugs are quite obviously and deliberately excluded from the pre-testing menu (http://www.fei.org/Rules/Veterinary/Documents/Annex%20IV%20-%20Elective%20Testing.pdf), as the FEI has ruled these drugs (anabolic steroids, human antipsychotics, opioids, etc) have no place in the competition horse. Unlike with "medication" class drugs, with "doping" agents the rider does not get the statutory benefit of the doubt on performance enhancement. So obviously they are not inclined to help you to use such drugs, by helping you to find out how long they take to clear. Which is just one of many giant tip-offs telling you NOT TO USE THESE DRUGS, EVER, only use stuff from the "medication" lists, which carry half the potential ban and no finding of presumed intent to enhance performance. Any question on classification is easily answered by the FEI vet dept. or by your NF (which is obliged to answer your FEI questions, having consulted with the FEI vet dept if there is any question on their end).

Of course, it has already been determined by people who know what they are doing that pre-testing for limited substances is largely a waste of time, but Haya fired the person who was telling her that (the same person who knew better than to test for capsaicin for the first time, at the Olympic Freaking Games), so the insanity continues...