Leading world experts on Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAID)
research in equestrian sport will be joined by prominent speakers from
the non-scientific field at the FEI global Congress on NSAID Usage and
Medication in the Equine Athlete which will be held at the Olympic
Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland on 16 and 17 August 2010. 

Roly Owers (GBR), Chief Executive of World Horse Welfare, will talk on
ethical and welfare implications of permitting the use of NSAIDs in
competition and Dr Lynn Hillyer (GBR), veterinary adviser to the British
Horseracing Authority, will address the conference on the topic of why
racing authorities have banned NSAIDs in racing. 

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) perspective on the in-competition
use of NSAIDs will be presented by Dr Martial Saugy (SUI), Director of
the WADA Laboratory in Lausanne, while the equine veterinary angle will
be further boosted by recently confirmed speaker Peter Kallings (SWE),
who will talk about the effects of NSAIDs use on equine performance.

Former FEI Veterinary Department Director, Alex Atock (IRL), will
present an overview of the history of NSAIDs in the FEI and the
situation before 1993. The full timetable with all speakers is now
available here.

FEI President HRH Princess Haya will give the opening address at the
two-day Congress, which will be chaired by Sven Holmberg, FEI First Vice
President. Both days will include panel discussions, when National
Federations, vets, officials, Riders Clubs, Organizers, FEI
Laboratories, racing and breeding authorities, sponsors, the IOC and the
media will have the opportunity to debate the issue further.

Registration for the Congress is still open to representatives from all
stakeholder groups. Booking information is available here and there is a
discounted rate for early registration. Please check www.fei.org for
updates.

The vote on the use of NSAIDs in competition will not be taken until the
FEI General Assembly in Chinese Taipei (1-6 November), but all
interested parties are advised to register for the Congress to book
their places and ensure that their voices are heard in this important
debate.