Whistle while you work, drug testers told in Doha

DOHA, Nov 29 (Reuters) Drug testers at the Asian Games will be told to whistle while they work when it comes to policing the equine events in Qatar.

Horses as well as athletes will face urine and blood tests as part of the Games commitment to a doping-free tournament, though the process for collecting samples is more complicated than simply handing an athlete a jar and following him to the bathroom.

''You put (the horse) on straw or sawdust, have it relax and whistle,'' said Damian Noseda, the medication control manager equine at the Doha Racing and Equestrian Club.

''There is no scientific explanation, but it works.'' All medal winners and a random five per cent of the horses competing would be tested, added Noseda.

Samples from the December 1-15 Games will be flown to Hong Kong for testing and the results reported to the Lausanne-based International Equine Federation, the sport's governing body.

''We have the ability to test up to 200 horses on site twice,'' said Noseda, adding that the results were usually available in a week.

The equestrian events kick off with the team dressage final on December 4.

REUTERS SBA BST0440