Letter to the Editor: The IFHA's Role In Doping Control

The TDN article “In Lab Variability, Horse Racing Playing Catchup With Human Sports” raises some important issues and, although its consideration of them is fair, it only does this from a USA perspective. While this is understandable, it is also relevant to look at the achievements made in this space internationally, much of which has been pioneered by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA), which is the global leader for Thoroughbred racing.

Firstly, I want to congratulate HISA/HIWU on their significant progress in enhancing testing standards in racing laboratories across the USA. As events like the Kentucky Derby gain greater international prominence, further harmonization of testing protocols–specifically pre- and post-race testing–is essential both domestically and globally.

Secondly, I would like to highlight some of the IFHA's key achievements in doping control harmonization, contributing to the integrity of racing worldwide:

• International Agreement on Breeding, Racing, and Wagering (IABRW): This IFHA agreement outlines best practices for equine doping control in Article 6, covering prohibited substances, genetic therapy/gene doping, prohibited practices, medication in training, and out-of-competition testing. It includes crucial control criteria such as thresholds and performance specifications for laboratories;

• Reference Laboratory Program: Since 2017, six laboratories from Australia, France, Great Britain, Hong Kong, USA and Japan have been designated as IFHA Reference Laboratories to support significant races relevant to IFHA world rankings. The heads of the original five laboratories contribute to the IFHA Reference Laboratory Technical Committee, which trains laboratory assessors and recommends practices for harmonizing doping control testing. Collaborations have been conducted for many years internationally among Reference Laboratories;

• Advisory Council on Equine Prohibited Substances & Practices: This group of international experts updates the IABRW and addresses contemporary issues like gene doping;

• Harmonization of Therapeutic Detection: The IFHA has established International Screening Limits and International Residue Limits to ensure consistent reporting of therapeutics and environmental substances by racing laboratories;

• Collaboration with ILAC: The IFHA has an MoU with the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation, aimed at standardizing practices across racing laboratories via consistent accreditation requirements and operating criteria;

• Racing Integrity Handbook: Released in October 2024, this handbook details the components ensuring integrity in racing in all jurisdictions, with a comprehensive chapter on doping control;

• Collaboration with AORC and IGSRV: The IFHA works closely with racing chemists and regulatory veterinarians to implement best practices for racing integrity and horse welfare.

Horse racing is a leading sport regarding integrity measures and doping control, often surpassing human sports. For instance, annual testing numbers reveal that approximately 522,000 racehorse samples were tested in 2022, compared to about 257,000 human athlete samples. Further, comprehensive blood testing and hair analysis have long been standard in horse racing, enhancing detection capabilities.

Additionally, while human gene-doping testing has focused on a single gene, horse racing has advanced to include various genetic modifiers. Innovative testing methodologies and data analytics are continually evolving, providing racing's regulatory authorities with effective tools for doping control.

Andrew Harding is the Executive Director of the International Federation of Horse Racing Authorities