The BSHA would like to thank all owners and riders who took part in our Medication Control Programme procedures for the 2025 season. We look forward to our members supporting our Medication Control Programme Testing Officers and Stewards in 2026.
The BSHA Medication Control Programme Code sets out four over-riding principles which are:
- to protect the integrity of classes
- to protect the welfare of horses and ponies
- to protect the safety of human competitors and in particular children and vulnerable adults
- to protect the safety of judges and other officials as well as members of the public through the control and limitation of the use of prohibited substances.
The Association continues to adopt the prohibited substance list published by the FEI. The Code places responsibility on every member who has custody or control of a horse or pony or where they are responsible for the care of a horse or pony, to safeguard and to protect them from ingesting or coming into contact with a prohibited substance. The obligation is strict and reflects the Board’s belief that our sport should take a firm approach in relation to positive tests.
The Medication Control Programme Code sets out the duties of every member, lists circumstances that would constitute a breach of the Code and sets out in straightforward terms the sampling process and the procedure in the event that a sample test is positive.
The policy has been written to reflect fairness in circumstances where a member is able to fully demonstrate why they are not at fault in the event of a positive test and firmness in circumstances where a member cannot do so. The Code imposes a set of minimum penalties which, other than in the most exceptional cases, will be periods of suspension, and specific provision is made to ensure that at least two-thirds of any period of disqualification is served during the active showing season.
An independent Medication Control Programme Code Panel will be selected to decide each case, made up of three members taken from an Medication Control Programme Code Panel Pool. In each case, the Panel will be made up of a legally qualified chair and two other panel members who will have appropriate experience in equine sport and/or veterinary science or other appropriate and relevant sphere. Members involved in Medication Control Programme Code hearings will be entitled at their own expense to legal representation although the Code is written to enable members and the Association to represent themselves, and there will be a right of appeal both for members and the Association.
Mindful of the need for the Code to be accessible it has been written to promote fairness and transparency. The introduction of a legally qualified chair on every panel will ensure independence and judicial fairness at every hearing.
The Code represents a positive step forward in the protection of our sport and that the robust and significant measures that it introduces will act as a deterrent to the very small minority who would otherwise be tempted to take a chance. For those that are not deterred a long suspension will now be the norm for anyone found to be in breach of the BSHA Medication Control Programme Code rules.
A copy of the BSHA Medication Control Programme Code is available upon request by emailing admin@britishshowhorse.org
