TV - FEI

Championships at Fontainebleau, France. The policy and action
plan are based on a six-year statistical study of the sport and
constitute a system for monitoring risk factors and streamlining
international data and ideas to increase our understanding of
the root causes of falls. The FEI General Assembly endorsed the
Risk Management Programme, which will be launched at the
third annual FEI Safety meeting in Sweden in January 2010. In
addition to other goals aimed at mitigating risk in the sport, the
Eventing Committee aims to reduce horse falls by 10% (20% at
4-star level) over the next three years.
The 2009 General Assembly voted overwhelmingly in favour
of the new Equine Anti-Doping and Controlled Medication
Regulations (EADCMR) and the associated Equine Prohibited
Substances List. It also adopted the recommendations of
the Ljungqvist and Stevens Commissions to combat doping
in our sport.
These recommendations revolve around three key elements: the
new Equine Anti-Doping and Controlled Medication Regulations
(EADCMR) and its associated Equine Prohibited Substances List,
professionalisation of the sport and an Equestrian Community
Integrity Unit to monitor compliance and safeguard horse
welfare.
Due to ensuing debate about the in-competition use of Non-
Steroidal Anti-Infl ammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) within strictly
prescribed limits, broader consultation and supplementary
research is planned, with the new Equine Anti-Doping and
Controlled Medication Regulations coming into force on 5 April
2010 instead of 1 January as originally scheduled.
The Joint-Commission recommendations also led to a decision
to create an Equestrian Community Integrity Unit (ECIU).
Quest Limited, an internationally renowned organisation that
specialises in sports investigations, is operating the ECIU, which
was launched at the 2009 General Assembly. A telephone
hotline and email address are key elements in its intelligence
gathering system and will enable concerns relating to integrity
issues to be reported in an appropriate manner.
Partly in response to the need to professionalise more roles
in equestrian sport, the FEI has established an Education
and Standards Department, headed by Harald Müller. The
department is responsible for the development, standardisation
and operation of FEI education curricula. It also deals with
defi ning and applying standards related to FEI disciplines
and associate disciplines, as well as those related to NFs and
organisations interfacing with the FEI. Another key responsibility
is the development and operation of an educational support
system. This year, the department developed systems of
education for Dressage Judges, Jumping Course Designers and
Jumping and Dressage Stewards.
The launch of FEI TV (www.feitv.org) in March has provided a
great new opportunity for our sport. As traditional and new
media merge with increasing speed, I strongly believe it is
essential to attracting new audiences, particularly young people,
to equestrian sports. Not only can we now show and promote
disciplines and events that are rarely or never broadcast on
television, we can also reach territories where coverage of
horse sport is limited or non-existent. The possibilities for this
global platform are numerous and mean that the FEI and its
stakeholders can prepare for a new age of digital broadcasting.
In 2010 the equestrian athletes, community and public
have many exciting events to look forward to. It is with great
satisfaction and pleasure that I witness FEI disciplines developing
throughout the world and an honour for the FEI to advance that
growth in a humane and sportsmanlike manner.
I thank the National Federations, FEI volunteers and our sponsors
for bringing our sport to an ever-enthusiastic public and look
forward to continuing a mutually benefi cial relationship with
the FEI Family built on transparency and dialogue.
Alexander McLin
FEI ANNUAL REPORT 2009 19