The United States Equestrian Team (USET) has initiated a Drug Education Program for its riders long-listed for the 1999 Pan American Games in Winnipeg, Canada.

The USET program includes four educational seminars conducted by U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) Drugs & Medication Officials and attended by USET Physician M. Craig Ferrell, M.D. of Franklin, Tenn. The USET created this program in order to inform its athletes of drug testing protocols and changes to drug testing rules following the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) anti-doping summit meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland, Feb. 2-4, 1999.

Working with the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC), the USET Drug Education Program will heighten athletes’ awareness of anti-doping policies. Dr. Ferrell, the USET’s Chief Medical Director, will act as advocate for USET riders and help them to understand and adhere to USOC drug policies