Welcome!
• Home • FAQs
• Site Map
Weather
• Contacts
Free Service Appreciation
Choose Pondside Web Productions for your hosting and web design needs!

Equitation’s New Logo: “Drugs Off”

November 5, 2005

Rodrigo Pessoa and Filippo Moyerson participated in the "Drugs Off" project launch. Photo Supplied.

Verona, ITALY --- New and more effective controls against doping for Italian horses and riders, zero tolerance for mistreatment of horses, and an aggressive campaign against unsportsmanlike behavior: all key elements of the “Drugs Off” project. The venture was presented today at the “Fiera Cavalli” in Verona by FISE (Italian Equestrian Federation) President Cesare Croce, Vittorio Orlandi (Association of Italian Horse Owners), and Giacomo Muccioli (San Patrignano Community).

" 'Drugs Off' is a new logo/slogan created by the Armando Testa agency, and will be featured in all of the activities related to education and prevention carried out by the community”, explains Muccioli. He goes on to add, “The world of sports has already began to utilize the logo. Andrea Dovizioso, World Champion in the 125cc division of motorcycle racing, has it on his bike. Italian equitation has now also joined us in sending a clear message against drugs”.

According to Croce, the project is culturally significant, and important for the world of sports. “The Federation has made a huge commitment in the fight against doping. In the last year, we have carried out 600 tests on 26,000 sport horses in Italy. Of these, 5% of the results came back positive. We have spent €60,000 on anti-doping initiatives, but must constantly look to improve. 'Drugs Off' gives us the opportunity to do so. The project will operate on all levels: from instructors to the top names in equitation – to present credible role models of fair play and sportsmanship. Too many scandals, like the disqualification of Ireland’s Olympic gold medalist Cian O’Connor, have damaged our sport’s reputation. It is unacceptable that those who win do so unfairly”.

Orlandi wholeheartedly agrees. “We have to be sure that honest owners, breeders, and riders are rewarded with victories in the arena. We can no longer allow that the best horse and rider lose to someone who ‘gains an edge’ by breaking the law, becoming a negative role model for young people. This is why we have created a system where each rider may participate voluntarily.“ continued Orlandi, “The horses of those who adhere to the initiative will undergo random anti-doping tests. Furthermore, we will present the project, along with the FISE, to the FEI, because we believe that similar measures should be adopted on a worldwide level.”

As for the project’s costs - Bayer, one of the giants of the pharmaceutical industry has already stated its willingness to help. It also seems that professional riders have taken a considerable interest in 'Drugs Off'. Two of the world’s top riders, Brazil’s Rodrigo Pessoa and three-time Italian Champion Filippo Moyerson participated in the project’s launch.

To November 2005 News Articles Index | To Canada Equine ...On-Line Home