In a major move to ensure that Ireland's equestrian participation in the London Olympics is not spoiled by doping, the OCI and Horse Sport Ireland have signed a comprehensive Agreement covering a wide range of topics including anti-doping. The Agreement was signed today (Aug 9th 2010) by Pat Hickey, President, Olympic Council of Ireland and Joe Walsh, Chairman of Horse Sport Ireland.

The document sets out a number of measures which the OCI and HSI will put in place between now and the games. These measures include:

•A medication and anti doping logbook into which riders will enter every product or substance they use on their horse in the lead up to the games.

•A new education course for each international rider on the international governing bodies' medication and anti doping control programme.

•The establishment of a joint OCI/HSI steering group to oversee matters in the lead up to the Games.

Pat Hickey commented:

"This Agreement should give everyone great confidence that, whatever problems we had in past Olympics in show jumping, these should not happen in the future.

"Once the World Equestrian Games are over in September, everything will be in place to ensure that participation by Ireland's equestrian team at the London Olympics will not be overshadowed by horse doping issues"

Horse Sport Ireland Chairman Joe Walsh said that Horse Sport Ireland were pleased that this agreement had been reached and that everyone was clear as to what the protocols will be in the lead up to 2012.

“A huge number of changes have been implemented over the past 18 months and we are pleased to have this protocol in place with the OCI. Nobody wants a repeat of what happened in the last two Olympics and ourselves and the OCI are determined that every possible measure will be in place,” he said.

Mr. Walsh also pointed out that in 2009 a total of 107 horses ridden by Irish riders had been tested in international competition and all had tested negative.

This is as it should be and we must strive to ensure in so far as we can that we have no further cases arise involving Irish riders,” he said.
 

Joe Walsh and Pat Hickey