Licensing Procedures Workshop at International Falcon Breeders Auction Reviews Anti-Doping Regulations

The National Center for Falcons, in cooperation with the Saudi Arabian Anti-Doping Committee (SAADC), organized the Workshop on Licensing Procedures for Falcon Breeding Centers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as part of the International Falcon Breeders Auction 2026, reviewing anti-doping regulations, prohibited substances, and testing mechanisms in falconry competitions. The workshop revealed that caffeine derivatives topped the list of substances detected in samples.
 Dr. Mohammed Al-Enezi of the SAADC highlighted the health risks associated with doping and its impact on the integrity of competitions, noting that it can affect the functions of certain organs and the immune system, increase the risk of disease, and reduce the falcon's lifespan, in addition to violating the principle of equal opportunity among competitors.
 The workshop reviewed violations, including the presence of a prohibited substance in a sample, the use or attempted use of prohibited substances, refusal to provide a sample, tampering with testing procedures, and possession or trafficking of prohibited substances. The current penalty for any violation is disqualification from the award.
 Each sample is assigned a unique barcode and sent to the laboratory without identifying information, ensuring the confidentiality of testing procedures and the independence of the results.