The FEI has announced detection times for Meloxicam (veterinary formulation known as Metacam®), a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used to relieve pain and inflammation in the equine athlete.
The findings of studies on the use of intravenously or orally administered Meloxicam show the urine and plasma (blood) detection time as 72 hours (1).
This is the first COX-2 inhibitor on the FEI List of Detection Times, which contains common medications administered out of competition and is listed on the FEI Clean Sport website.
“We are committed to providing the tools to assist our athletes to adhere to the FEI’s Equine Anti-Doping Rules, and will add further medication detection times over the coming 12 months,” explains Graeme Cooke, Director of Veterinary Department at the FEI.
Meloxicam (Metacam®) is developed by Boehringer-Ingelheim.