In a new edition of the EQUTALK Business Podcast (NL), Belgian equestrian surgeon, Tom Mariën talks about his veterinarian checks and the use of doping in our sport! "If we want our sport to survive first we need to ensure doping is banned in our sport, but not with the current regulations," Mariën says.
"Equestrianism is the most regulated sport in the world," says Tom Mariën. "If you want a sport to survive, you have to appeal to a critical mass. That is why I am convinced we must do everything in our power to ban doping—much like in cycling. The moment doping enters the fray, popularity plummets. However, we must dare to question our current policy, as I find the current approach fundamentally flawed."
"At present, riders and horses are being suspended without any intentional use of doping. The policy has overshot its mark; it has started to resemble a witch hunt. It is unjustifiable that positive results are triggered by microscopic traces—for example, when a groom’s coffee ends up in the hay via urine."
Mariën is therefore calling for a complete revision of the doping regulations. "I advocate for zero tolerance regarding doping, but it is unacceptable for horses to be subject to stricter rules than human athletes. This 'manhunt' that victimizes riders who never intentionally doped their horses must stop. You cannot hold riders and owners 100% responsible; they are not with the animal 24/7, and conditions at competitions—such as security—are not always 100% guaranteed."
