Intelligence-based anti-doping from an equine biological passport.

This research focuses on the translational potential of the human anti-doping system known as the athlete biological passport into animal sports, presumably for an efficient and personalised anti-doping mechanism.

Research Overview

• This research is centered around the concept of the “athlete biological passport” that is used in human sports to control doping. The authors examine the potential for applying this system to animal sports as a strategic approach against doping.

Athlete Biological Passport

• The Athlete Biological Passport is an individual, electronic record for professional athletes, in which profiles of biological markers of doping and results of doping tests are collated over a period of time.
• Anti-doping regulations in human sports have been incredibly strengthened over years. One of the novel methodologies used for such purposes is a system of athlete biological passport. This robust system uses an individual’s unique genetic makeup to create an effective and personalised anti-doping mechanism.

Translational Potential to Animal Sports

• The authors discuss the idea of adapting the athlete biological passport model for use in animal sports. While animal sports might not seem immediately analogous to human sports, major competitions do have high stakes with significant potential for various forms of cheating, including doping.
• The key idea explored by the researchers is the application of the intelligence-based anti-doping system in animal sports, drawing from the model used in human sports. The intelligence-based anti-doping system would potentially detect and deter drug misuse in animals using bio-markers.

Challenges and Potential

• Transferring such a system from humans to animals would not be without challenges, however. Differences in species, large numbers of animals in many competitive events and the lack of a unified, international anti-doping agency for animal sports all represent barriers to such a transfer.
• Despite these challenges, the authors note there is considerable potential to adapt the model of the athlete biological passport to animal sports, and this shows promise for overall improvements in animal welfare and fairness in competition.