Anti-doping is an essential safeguard of integrity and welfare across animal and human sports. The systems that underpin it—whether in equine, canine, camel, avian or human contexts—face strikingly similar pressures. Operational and resource constraints, scientific and technical challenges, regulatory and legal complexities, and behavioural and cultural factors. Too often, these programmes are vulnerable to evolving in isolation, leading to risk of duplication of effort, missed efficiencies, and slower scientific progress.
The theme of “synergy between species” provides a timely lens through which to re-examine these challenges. Many opportunities for innovation—e.g. biomarkers, omics approaches, intelligence-led testing, risk assessment tools, minimum reporting levels or longitudinal athlete profiling—are directly transferable between species. Animal anti-doping brings unique experiences, from dealing with multiple species to navigating the complexities of therapeutic medication use, which can enrich human anti-doping strategies.
This presentation explores how deeper collaboration can address challenges and accelerate innovation. It invites the industry to think beyond traditional boundaries, exploring ideas including greater shared research efforts, cross-sport intelligence sharing, and use of AI-driven analytics and advanced reporting tools. It examines practical and structural barriers to integration, focusing on how equine anti-doping laboratories and regulators can contribute to, and benefit from, the wider global anti-doping community—ensuring advances in analytical science, data capability, and governance flow in both directions.
Breaking down silos and working across species, not only creates more resilient anti-doping systems but lays the groundwork for a truly innovative and sustainable future. This joined-up approach recognises that while sports may differ, the principles of fairness, welfare, and integrity are universal, and are best protected through shared solutions. By acknowledging these common foundations, through innovation, collaboration and globally coherent regulation we move towards anti-doping systems that not only deters wrongdoing but actively serves those athletes and stakeholders they exist to protect.