If you're competing at affiliated national or international competitions, it's vital that you understand the rules and guidance surrounding anti-doping for both humans and equines. This section of the website focuses on the rules around human anti-doping – to find out more about equine anti-doping, click here.
Human anti-doping rules exist to protect the health and welfare of athletes, while also protecting the integrity of the sport itself and ensuring a level playing field. British Equestrian supports both the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) and UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) in its human anti-doping work.
The World Anti-Doping Agency has published its 2025 Prohibited List of Substances and Methods, which come into effect on 1 January 2025.
The Prohibited List is updated annually and the new list comes into effect on 1 January each year. However, it’s published three months prior to this, giving athletes time to review it and make any necessary provisions, such as applying for a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE).
The list outlines what substances and methods are prohibited in sport, during competition only, and within specific sports. If you’re caught out or take something that’s on this list, you face a ban from sport. That’s why it’s important for every athlete and athlete support person to read the list carefully.
If you have any questions on the Prohibited List or a medication you may be using, please contact substance@ukad.org.uk.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) publishes and maintains a list of the substances and methods which are:
Within these categories, some substances are "conditional" – athletes are allowed to take up to a specific dose or within a specific dosage range but outside of that dose or range the substance is prohibited (for example, some ingredients found in asthma inhalers). Other conditional substances are those that are only prohibited by the way they are taken (route of administration) - for example, applied as a cream, or swallowed, or inhaled.
The FEI defines the in-competition period as the period commencing one (1) hour before the beginning of the first horse inspection the day before a competition in which the athlete is scheduled to participate through to the end of the last competition at the event for that athlete or the sample collection process related to such competition.
2025 SUMMARY OF MAJOR MODIFICATIONS AND EXPLANATORY NOTES
First, you need to check if the medication is permitted or not. To do this, you will need to check the status of the medication on GlobalDRO. The Global Drug Reference Online provides athletes and support personnel with information about the prohibited status of specific medications.
If the medication is prohibited, then you need to check to see if you need to apply for a Therapeutic Use Excemption (TUE).
Even athletes may have illnesses or conditions that require them to take particular medications or undergo procedures. If the medication or method you're required to take or use to treat an illness or condition is included in the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) Prohibited List, a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) makes it possible for you to do so while still being compliant with the anti-doping rules.
You can find out more about TUEs, whether you need one and how to apply for one via the UKAD Medicine and TUE Hub.
There's also information about TUEs on the FEI Clean Sport Hub.
Regardless of the level you’re competing at, as an athlete you have a duty to…
If you take regular medication, you should recheck it against the list each time there's an update. If you take a medication that's changed status and is now prohibited, apply for a TUE (Therapeutic Use Exemption) where necessary.
Athlete support personnel should also ensure they’re familiar with the list and its changes.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) sets out the World Anti-Doping Code – a set of anti-doping rules under which all sports in all countries across the world must operate. It’s critical that all athletes competing at both a national and international level, and their support personnel and partners, are fully aware of the Code.
Responsibility for human anti-doping at international level in equestrian sport falls to the FEI. At national level, British Equestrian has its own human anti-doping rules, but the programme is managed by UK Anti-Doping (UKAD).
Strict liability means that you are solely responsible for any banned substance you use, attempt to use, or is found in your system, regardless of how it got there or whether there was any intention to cheat. However, you do have some rights and responsibilities as an athlete.
There are 11 Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs). All 11 apply to athletes, while two also apply to athlete support personnel and five also apply to athlete support personnel and other persons.
Minors are classified as athletes who are under 18 years of age. It's important that parents understand what this means and how it impacts you and your child. Under the Anti-Doping Rules your child is responsible for any prohibited substance they use, attempt to use or is found in their system, even if they had no intention to cheat.
CLEAN SPORT ESSENTIALS PARENTS AND CARERS OF YOUNG ATHLETES
Click here for more information about the testing process for minors.
Click here for more information about the testing process for athletes with an impairment.
All information regarding international anti-doping regulations can also be found on the FEI Clean Sport Hub, which provides information on their two anti-doping programmes – the FEI Rules for Human Athletes and the FEI Rules for Equine Athletes.
If you have any concerns about possible doping in sport, we want to hear from you. Even if you think your information seems minor, we want to hear about it.
Please contact us if you:
All information is regarded as confidential.