Pilot Program for USPA Equine Drug & Medication Testing
November 4, 2009 – Wellington, FL: The United States Polo Association (USPA) announces a pilot program for equine drug and medication testing to begin January 2010.
At their annual meetings in October, the USPA Board of Governors unanimously approved a by-law change for 2010 that will require individual members of the USPA to submit his or her horses for random blood and/or urine testing.
According to USPA executive director Peter Rizzo, “The USPA Equine Drug & Medication Testing Program was proposed by the USPA Polo Pony Welfare Committee, which was formed to develop additional safeguards for horses following the tragedy of the 21 horses that died in April during the U.S. Open Polo Championship tournament. The committee is comprised of leading expert veterinarians, polo players, club managers, horse trainers and legal experts all within the polo community.”
The Association has also amended by-laws to include possible disciplinary action against any member convicted of a civil animal-abuse violation.
The USPA is consulting with other equine sport associations to review their policies and provisions in an effort to identify best practices for polo. While the USPA Equine Drug & Medication Testing Program policies are still being determined, the pilot program will introduce the USPA to testing; however, the complete drug and medication rule system including adjudication, hearings and penalties will take additional time to implement.
United States Polo Association www.uspolo.org
The USPA was organized and exists for the purposes of promoting the game of polo, coordinating the activities of its Member Clubs and Registered Players, arranging and supervising polo tournaments, competitions, and games, and providing rules, handicaps, and conditions for those tournaments, competitions, and games including the safety and welfare of participants and mounts.