As a groom, you are one of the most important people in a competition horse’s life.
You feed them, keep their environment clean, monitor their day-to-day wellbeing, and you are often the person who spends the most time with them at events.
This means that grooms are also at the heart of protecting horses from contamination and anti-doping violations.
Across two articles, produced in collaboration with Ellen Kerr of Morgan Sports Law, we explain some of the things you, as a groom, need to know about anti-doping in practical terms.
In this Part 1, we discuss one common habit that has caused serious issues in equestrian sport - and it is something you may not even realise is risky - urinating in a horse’s stable.
We will explain why this matters, how it has led to positive anti-doping findings in multiple cases, and what you can do to protect yourself, your rider, and the horses you look after.
How can urinating in a stable cause a positive test?
If you are taking any medication - even something as common as a painkiller or an antidepressant - traces of it remain in your urine. If you urinate in a horse’s stable, those traces can contaminate the bedding or hay, which may then be eaten by the horse.
This can lead to the horse testing positive for that substance and, if the substance is prohibited, an anti-doping rule violation.
You may think that the amounts involved are too small to matter. However, modern testing is extremely sensitive. Even a few nanograms per millilitre are enough to trigger a positive result.
Further, it is not just prescription medications that can cause problems.
Many everyday products that grooms use without thinking twice are banned or restricted in horses.
For example, caffeine, paracetamol, ibuprofen, aspirin and cetirizine are all prohibited in horses at events.
Recreational drugs like cocaine and cannabis are also banned in horses at all times.
The full list of substances which are prohibited in horses can be found here.
Real cases where this has happened
This is not just a theoretical risk. The FEI Tribunal (the body that handles international equine anti-doping cases) has dealt with many cases where a groom urinating in a stable led directly to a positive test. Here are some examples:
1. In the case of Bardolina 2, ridden by Mario Deslauriers, the horse tested positive for O-Desmethylvenlafaxine (a chemical component of the antidepressant, Venlafaxine).
It turned out that the groom, who was taking this antidepressant, had urinated in the horse’s stall because the toilets were far from the stables. This caused the horse to test positive.
2. In the case of Gelo Delle Schiave, ridden by Pierluigi Sangiorgi, the groom had been taking Abilify (another antidepressant) for several months. He urinated repeatedly in the horse’s box during an event because he did not want to leave the horse unsupervised.
The horse then tested positive for Aripiprazole, the main ingredient in Abilify.
3. The horse Quelly Briquedalle, ridden by Grigoris Voglis, tested positive for 4-Methylaminoantipyrine, an ingredient in the painkiller Analgin.
The groom had been taking this medication for headaches and fever. He urinated in the horse’s box because the toilets were out of order and he felt he could not leave the horse alone.
In each of these cases, the rider’s results from the event where the horse tested positive were disqualified. In the first two cases, the riders were also temporarily suspended while the legal process was ongoing.
Although the riders were ultimately found to bear “no fault” (which means they did not have to serve a further ban once the proceedings were over), the disruption, stress and reputational damage caused by these cases was significant.
What you should do
The FEI is clear that you should never urinate in or near a horse’s stable, box or trailer – whether at home or at a competition. The potential consequences of urinating in a horse’s environment are so severe that it is simply not worth the risk.
In reality, this may not always be an easy instruction to follow. Toilets may be far away, poorly serviced or even out of order, and your schedule may be too busy to take time away from the horse.
The IGA is campaigning hard to improve facilities and working conditions for grooms, aiming to help ease difficulties like this in future.
If you are at a show where the facilities are too far away or not serviced properly make sure you report the issue to organisers and to the FEI using the Groom Report in the HorseApp.
You can also use the IGA Feedback From to raise the issue with the IGA.
If you are concerned about leaving your horse, do you have a friend or neighbour you trust who can keep an eye on them?
Finally, remember that this is not just about protecting yourself. It is about protecting the horse, the integrity of the sport you work in every day, and your and your rider’s career.
The FEI Tribunal has repeatedly emphasised that positive findings caused by urination are entirely avoidable with proper education and awareness.
By reading this article, you have already taken an important step. Now it’s over to you to put it into practice (and over to event organisers to ensure that there are convenient facilities, of course!).
If you have any questions arising from this article or would like to discuss a legal issue, please feel free to contact Ellen Kerr (ellen.kerr@morgansl.com or +44 7487 702 114).
The IGA has developed International Groom Clean, FEI approved anti-doping education to ensure all grooms have access to groom specific education.
The course covers how to avoid accidental contamination, what we mean by equine doping, and what the FEI testing procedure looks like.
Head to https://internationalgrooms.org/igc to get started.
About the Author – Ellen Kerr
Ellen Kerr is an Associate at Morgan Sports Law, advising clients across the equestrian and sports sectors. Her work includes supporting riders, trainers, owners, officials, event organisers, governing bodies and organisations on matters such as anti-doping, safeguarding, regulatory compliance, dispute resolution and welfare-related issues. With a particular focus on equestrian sport, Ellen provides practical and thoughtful legal advice tailored to those working with horses.
Connect with Ellen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerrellen
View Ellen's profile: https://www.morgansl.com/en/msl-team/ellen-kerr
About Morgan Sports Law
Morgan Sports Law is a specialist sports law firm recognised internationally for its expertise in anti-doping, sports regulation, integrity, safeguarding, disciplinary proceedings, dispute resolution and arbitration. The firm advises athletes, support personnel, clubs, governing bodies and organisations across a wide range of sports, including equestrian disciplines.
Learn more about Morgan Sports Law: https://www.morgansl.com
This article is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. The information contained in this article is accurate to the best of the author's knowledge as at the date of publication. Laws, regulations, policies and guidance may change over time, and readers should not rely on this article as a substitute for obtaining legal advice in relation to their specific circumstances. Professional legal advice should be sought before taking, or refraining from taking, any action based on the content of this article.
