The formal stance of Equestrian Sports New Zealand (ESNZ) on a new FEI proposal on drugs in sport horses will not be known until a board meeting on October 27.
 Jim Ellis |
This decision will be carried to the world governing body's annual General Assembly, which begins about a week later.
However, ESNZ chief executive Jim Ellis said initial discussions with his officials indicated that the proposed new stance appeared to offer a practical way forward.
The FEI's List Group has come up with a fresh proposal which takes a new position on non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) which it hopes will satisfy national federations which take a zero-tolerance stance to their use in competition horses - among them New Zealand, Australia and the key European equestrian nations.
The Lists Group proposes allowing certain common anti-inflammatory drugs out of competition, but there must be no detectable levels when competing.
The FEI acknowledged that evidence presented at last month's congress on NSAIDs provided contradictory evidence over safety in allowing low levels of the drugs in competition horses. This proposal, contained in the so-calle progressive list, caused an uproar in the sport when last year's General Assembly voted narrowly to accept it.
The FEI soon backtracked, acknowledging there had been inadequate consultation, and restored the existing zero-tolerance policy pending a vote by national federations on the issue in November.
Equestrian Sports New Zealand chief executive Jim Ellis told Horsetalk that the national body was considering the outcomes of the recent NSAIDs congress and, in particular, the new proposed Equine Prohibited Substances List for 2011.
"ESNZ's formal position will be decided at the board meeting on October 27; this will determine the New Zealand vote on this matter at the FEI General Assembly on November 5, 2010.
"However, initial discussion with relevant ESNZ veterinary and Clean Sport officials suggests that the new proposal offers a practical solution to the previous progressive list issue, most importantly ensuring that NSAIDs (including bute) will not be permissible in competition."
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