Anti-doping and veterinary checks in show jumping: horses and athletes

In show jumping the anti-doping check does not concern the athlete alone: the horse too is subject to controls, and to possible veterinary inspections. The FISE National Regulation sets out the principles, but refers to other texts for the procedures. Here we explain what it says, and what has to be looked up elsewhere.

In short

• Horse and athlete are both subject to anti-doping controls: Art. 11 for the horse, Art. 21 for the athlete.
• Doping of the horse, once established, brings disqualification of horse and/or competitor from all the trials of the event and referral to the sports justice bodies (Art. 11.1).
• Any medication for the horse during the event must be requested from the service veterinarian and authorised by the Ground Jury President, using annex E of the Veterinary Regulation (Art. 11.2).
• At some events (e.g. Championships) a veterinary inspection may be scheduled before or during the competitions (Art. 11.4).
• For the athlete the Anti-doping Sports Rules published by CONI apply, which every member must respect (Art. 21.4).
• Source: FISE National Show Jumping Regulation (2025 edition).

The horse: anti-doping and veterinary inspection (Art. 11)

Art. 11 states that the use of non-permitted methods or a well-founded suspicion of doping substances, if established by the service veterinarian or by the Ground Officials with the vet's assistance, leads to disqualification of the horse and/or competitor from all the trials of the event. On top of that comes referral to the competent Sports Justice Body of the competitor, the instructor (if the athlete is a minor) and the owner or keeper of the horse. If a positive result emerges from a laboratory test, referral applies even if the outcome is known after the event ends (Art. 11.1).

The rule also provides for precautionary seizure: drugs administered without the required authorisation, or instruments that harm the horse's welfare, are taken by the Ground Official in agreement with the Ground Jury President and sent to FISE for checks by the competent Veterinary Office.

Treating the horse in competition: the authorisation procedure (Art. 11.2)

Anti-doping does not mean the horse cannot be treated. If during the event its condition makes a medicine or medicament of any kind necessary, the owner or person in charge must request it from the service veterinarian. The vet, having assessed the case and completed annex E of the Veterinary Regulation, asks the Ground Jury President for authorisation; the President decides together with the vet whether the horse may continue in the following classes of the event (Art. 11.2). It is a documented procedure, not an automatic clearance.

On the procedure and specific prescriptions the regulation is deliberately concise: it explicitly refers to the Veterinary Regulation in force and to the anti-doping rules adopted by FISE. We do not report here operational details the text does not contain.

Veterinary inspections and facilities (Art. 11.3 and 11.4)

The logistics fall to the organisation: Organising Committees must provide facilities and equipment consistent with Book VI of the FISE General Regulation, the Veterinary Regulation and the anti-doping rules (Art. 11.3).

At some events, typically Championships, the programme may include a veterinary inspection of the horses before the start of the competitions or during them, for example for finalist horses (Art. 11.4). Here too the regulation does not describe the procedure in detail: it refers to the Veterinary Regulation in force and to the rules of the specific event.

The athlete: the human anti-doping rules (Art. 21)

For the person the reference is Art. 21. It defines doping as the use of natural or synthetic substances aimed at improving physical performance, when such use amounts to a breach of the anti-doping rules (Art. 21.1). The regulation restates the ethical rationale: doping is contrary to the principles of loyalty and fairness, to the values of sport and to its role in valuing athletes' natural physical potential and moral qualities (Art. 21.2).

For the athlete too, a positive result confirmed in the laboratory brings referral to the sports justice bodies, even if the outcome arrives after the event is over (Art. 21.3). For everything else the regulation refers to the Anti-doping Sports Rules available on the CONI website, which every member is bound to respect (Art. 21.4). It is these rules, not the show jumping regulation, that define substance lists, testing, therapeutic exemptions and sanctions.

The commentary. The logic of the two articles is the same: protect the integrity of the competition and the welfare of the horse, while delegating the details to specialised texts. It makes sense. Anti-doping lists change over time and need technical updates that a general sports regulation cannot keep pace with. The practical message for the pair is clear: any treatment of the horse in competition goes through the service veterinarian, and for the athlete the yardstick is the CONI Anti-doping Sports Rules, not personal feelings about what is allowed.

Related deep-dives

For the full picture go back to the guide to show jumping rules.

Source and disclaimer

Content verified against the FISE National Show Jumping Regulation (2025 edition), Art. 11 (anti-doping and veterinary inspection of the horse) and Art. 21 (human anti-doping sports rules). Verified on 15/09/2026. Independent, informational guide, unofficial and not affiliated with FISE: in competition the regulation in force prevails, together with the Veterinary Regulation and the CONI Anti-doping Sports Rules, which update over time.