Is it worth the risk?

I am Lucy Katan; many of you know me for my role as Founder and Executive Director of the Equestrian Employers and British Grooms Associations, but very few know that I also am a National Trainer at UK Anti-Doping.

I am passionate about Clean Sport and having worked at 3 Olympic Games I have seen first hand the impact doping can have on an athletes life. 

This latest news of an ADRV (Anti-doping rule violation or more commonly known as a failed test) highlights the importance of understanding about how to keep ‘clean’.

Not the type of clean in the sense of tack cleaning or mucking out – but the one that means that our equestrian sports are fair and free of cheats who 'dope' to achieve a competitive advantage.

#cleansport – this is the hashtag that is used throughout the sporting world to instil the message that it is crucial that our sports are a level playing field.

This most recent case in the equestrian world is very sad. Gold medals lost, dreams squashed not just for the rider, Harry Charles, but also his exceedingly hard working groom, BGA Ambassador Daniel Tarpey, and of course the other riders on the team who also lost their Gold medals.

This is the result of ADRV's – whatever the circumstances.

However, on this occasion, it is even sadder due to the reasons behind the finding which was a controlled medication substance, found to be present due to inadvertent doping (it wasn't present with the intent to cheat).

However, the rules are the same whatever the sport and they are called ‘Strict Liability’. This means that whatever the finding, it is the responsibility of the individual (rider) – they are the competitor and thus it is them that gets the sanction.

How can ADRV’s be avoided? The answer is simple – education, knowledge and good practices.

If I was a rider competing under rules (any rules, but in particular at a high national or an international level) I would absolutely ensure that every person that had anything to do with my horses had a level of understanding about anti-doping.

Moreover, the grooms who worked for me, yes every one of them, would have it as part of their induction to my yard to gain their Groom Clean certification.

Grooms, who care for the highly valuable horses (not just £’s or $’s but also all the hopes and dreams) are especially vulnerable. They are the front line as they are hands on, always. 

Where will they get their knowledge and good practice from? The answer is simple – Groom Clean !

Produced with support from the FEI, within about 30 mins, one will gain a good level of understanding about prohibited substances, the testing process and practical tips of how to keep 'clean'.

It is included for free with BGA membership (£21.50), or can be done as a one off for just £14.50.

If you are a groom reading this and haven't yet gained your Groom Certificication, get smart and do it. 

If you are a yard manager reading this, do it yourself and then get all of your team to do it. 

And if you are an employer/rider reading this, ask yourself, how confident are you that your team truly know and understand how to Groom Clean? 

So for this small cost, is it really worth the risk? 

BGA MEMBERSHIP OPTIONS