Doping in canine sports raises questions of performance, ethics, and animal welfare.

The subject is documented in scientific literature, but available knowledge varies greatly depending on the disciplines concerned.

The majority of studies focus on competition animals with high economic stakes, particularly racehorses. Published data concerning canine sports are much scarcer.

Moreira et al.'s review, published in 2021, also shows that most of the work dedicated to testing concerns equine disciplines.

What we know today

Detection methods exist.

Analyses carried out in anti-doping contexts primarily rely on blood and urine, although other biological matrices can sometimes be studied.

However, published literature on the organization of controls in many canine disciplines remains limited.

Therefore, situations encountered in races, equestrian sports, or certain professional competitions cannot be directly extrapolated to all canine sports.

Veterinary treatment or doping?

One of the reference texts on this subject remains Toutain's, published in 2010.

The author reminds us that the question is not only about the substance used but about the context of its administration.

A dog receiving veterinary treatment is not automatically considered doped.

However, the use of a medication or substance intended to mask pain, lameness, or a condition incompatible with competition raises important questions regarding animal welfare and sports fairness.

A dog artificially made to perform by a treatment that masks suffering is no longer in a situation comparable to that of an animal genuinely fit for exertion.

The most realistic risk: contamination or inappropriate use

Intentional doping exists, but it probably does not represent the main risk for most owners of sporting dogs.

The most plausible problems concern:

• poorly traced products;
• cross-contamination;
• supplements of insufficient quality;
• errors in use;
• products whose actual composition is unknown.

The BSCG program is not an anti-doping authority. It is a private certification body.

Its interest lies in analyzing batches of supplements to check for numerous prohibited or problematic substances.

These approaches illustrate concerns related to product quality and the potential presence of contaminants.

The case published in 2024

An article published in 2024 in Frontiers in Sports and Active Living reported the case of an athlete who tested positive after using a veterinary spray containing clostebol acetate on her dog.

The unintentional transfer of the substance between the animal and the human was considered the most probable explanation.

This publication does not concern canine doping per se.

Nevertheless, it illustrates the sometimes unexpected consequences of certain veterinary medicines and highlights the importance of traceability of used products.

Supplements and sporting dogs

The terms "recovery," "joint support," "natural," or "mild pain relief" do not provide information about the level of control or validation of a product.

For dogs participating in competitive activities, several elements deserve particular attention:

• product origin;
• clearly identified composition;
• batch traceability;
• preservation of packaging;
• veterinarian information;
• knowledge of used ingredients.

The higher the level of competition, the more important these elements become.

The question of animal welfare

The literature regularly reminds us that the protection of the dog remains a priority.

Administering treatment to cure a pathology or improve a dog's comfort is not comparable to using a substance intended to mask pain to keep the animal in competition.

This distinction is probably one of the most important points in discussions surrounding animal doping.

In summary

Doping in canine sports is a real issue, but its documentation varies greatly depending on the disciplines.

Current knowledge primarily comes from animal sports with high economic stakes.

For the majority of owners of sporting dogs, the most concrete risks mainly concern:

• poorly controlled products;
• contamination;
• errors in use;
• inappropriate use of medications or supplements.

The objective remains to preserve the dog's health and well-being, and not to artificially maintain a painful or impaired animal in a sports activity.

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Sources 

1. Moreira F. et al., Doping detection in animals: A review of analytical methodologies published from 1990 to 2019, 2021, PMID: 33440053

2. Toutain P.L., Veterinary medicines and competition animals: the question of medication versus doping control, 2010, PMID: 20204593

3. Pokrywka A. et al., A case study of positive doping control by animal-to-human drug transfer after an athlete administered medicine in spray format, containing clostebol acetate, to a pet dog, 2024, PMID: 39722740

4. BSCG, private certification program for animal supplements