Leading world experts on Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAID) research in equestrian sport will be joined by prominent speakers from the non-scientific field at the FEI global Congress on NSAID Usage and Medication in the Equine Athlete which will be held at the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland on 16 and 17 August 2010.
Roly Owers (GBR), Chief Executive of World Horse Welfare, will talk on ethical and welfare implications of permitting the use of NSAIDs in competition and Dr Lynn Hillyer (GBR), veterinary adviser to the British Horseracing Authority, will address the conference on the topic of why racing authorities have banned NSAIDs in racing.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) perspective on the in-competition use of NSAIDs will be presented by Dr Martial Saugy (SUI), Director of the WADA Laboratory in Lausanne, while the equine veterinary angle will be further boosted by recently confirmed speaker Peter Kallings (SWE), who will talk about the effects of NSAIDs use on equine performance.
Former FEI Veterinary Department Director, Alex Atock (IRL), will present an overview of the history of NSAIDs in the FEI and the situation before 1993. The full timetable with all speakers is now available here.
FEI President HRH Princess Haya will give the opening address at the two-day Congress, which will be chaired by Sven Holmberg, FEI First Vice President. Both days will include panel discussions, when National Federations, vets, officials, Riders Clubs, Organisers, FEI Laboratories, racing and breeding authorities, sponsors, the IOC and the media will have the opportunity to debate the issue further.
Registration for the Congress is still open to representatives from all stakeholder groups. Booking information is available here and there is a discounted rate for early registration. Please check www.fei.org for updates.
The vote on the use of NSAIDs in competition will not be taken until the FEI General Assembly in Chinese Taipei (1-6 November), but all interested parties are advised to register for the Congress to book their places and ensure that their voices are heard in this important debate.