Sheikh Khalifa, President of the UAE, has issued a new law to combat the trade or use of banned substances in horse racing and equestrian sports events in the UAE.
The law aims to protect legitimate competition in the sport and eliminate fraud while promoting sportsmanship.
It will also encourage research on combating banned materials, help develop the detection process of substances and educate owners and professionals about the seriousness of the use of prohibited substances.
The new law is applicable in all equestrian sports, including endurance, flat racing, training of horses and polo.
The implementing regulations of the law issued by the Cabinet included provisions that banned substances may only be used under licence for the purpose of treatment of horses and not allowed in the field of horse racing and equestrian sports.
The Ministry of Environment and Water will grant approvals for the use of restricted substances for therapeutic purposes and research only.
Refusal to have horses tested, using substances without a licence, manipulating control procedures, helping the owner or arranging or encouraging or covering up any process related to giving banned materials to horses, and any act related to the distribution or use of prohibited substances, are prohibited under the new law.
Anyone who violates any provision of this law will be fined up to Dh200,000.
The fine will be doubled in the event of a repeat violation within three years from the date of committing the first offence, to not more than Dh500,000, in addition to the stipulated fines.
The law also takes several administrative decisions against the offender, which include the denial of participation in horse racing and equestrian sport for up to three years, the closure of the offending establishment for up to three years, the cancellation of the offending establishment’s licence and, in the case of repeat violation, the offender will be removed from the records of horse racing and equestrian sport events.
The Cabinet also issued the Implementing Regulations of the federal law on combating banned substances in horse racing and equestrian sport events, which consist of 11 articles about detailed procedures for law enforcement provisions.
The regulations also mention the responsibilities and conditions for granting approvals for the use of restricted substances and trading of banned substances and restricted substances, and identifies prohibited acts and duties of establishments in the area of products, facilities, food supplements, materials and drugs, and obligations of owners and professionals.
The law completes the legislative system for horse racing and equestrian sports events in accordance with international standards. It also confirms the success of the UAE in organising these races at the regional and global level.
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