Graeme Cooke

Graeme Cook is the Veterinary Director at the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI). He is a graduate of the University of Cambridge. After various types of veterinary practice he spent the last 7 years of his clinical time in purely UK equine practice. He then moved into UK central government as a policy adviser moving through exotic disease control, contingency planning, and global animal trade. He was awarded a scholarship to study for a full time MBA at a London Business School in 2007, writing his dissertation on the blocks to the uptake of innovative biotechnology.

A Lieutenant-Colonel in the military reserves, in 2009 Graeme served with the British Army in Helmand Province Afghanistan winning an Operational Commendation . His area of responsibility at the FEI covers the veterinary standards at all FEI events including the required science and welfare policy, the provision of nearly 1000 Veterinary Officials worldwide, and the negotiations needed to permit increasing levels of horse movement for international competitions. He has been leading the delivery of the FEI Clean Sport Initiative, a series of rules and strategies designed to protect equestrian sport both now and in the future.

Doping and medication controls within FEI regulated competition commenced much later than in Racing. The demands of the various FEI disciplines require horses of differing types and age to that of racing, and permission can be given for certain treatments during competition. Such permissions are under the authority of the FEI Veterinary Officials. Testing is conducted by officials in a manner that may differ regionally in detail, but adheres to the same principles. Samples from around the world are sent to 5 laboratories which meet FEI standards. 2010 sees a major effort to uplift the FEI approach to deal with challenges present both now and that will come in the future as equestrian sport continues to grow at a high rate.

The associated change in approach fall into three areas

Rules and regulations measures
Integrity Measures
Professionalization measures

Many of these measures have a focus on reducing the numbers of doping and medication cases, both deliberate and accidental. The delivery of these measures requires an associated effort in the area of communication and education. The entire initiative comes under the collective title of FEI Clean Sport.

This presentation outlines the historical approach in this area, the actual delivery of Doping and Medication testing at FEI events, the reasons for the introduction of the measures above and the roll out of the process of change.

<< back Programma 2010 >>