38 ICRAV 2026 Unknowing liability, a previously unsuspected regulatory obligation leading to disciplinary action and/or financial consequences, is often seen by responsible persons across animal sports as unfair after an exposure to prohibited substances via feed, supplements and the environment. Regulators recognise that those who take all reasonable precautions deserve mitigation of penalties, but continue to stand by the wider interests of overall fairness in competition delivered by strict lability. A detailed survey of equine and canine sports showed that the listed inventory of such exogenous prohibited substances had now grown to around 80 in several separate and independently derived lists. Current approaches to reduce risk from such liability include: Education on sourcing feed and supplements, on environmental and seasonal risks, and on managing facilities and staff; quality management schemes; and product testing harmonisation. The first and second are under-utilised, the latter often deficient for pre-analytical product preparation and sample extraction, even before variations in analytical methodology. As well as improving education, quality management and testing harmonisation, further opportunities to reduce these risks include: Harmonisation and increased clarity on product labelling; Early warnings systems for wider findings of such prohibited substances; Regional and international industry forums for producers and regulators; Exploiting Artificial Intelligence from the vast amount of data being created by analytical laboratories, including for population pharmacokinetics. Such improvements would require cooperative working amongst and between regulators, laboratories, producers and participants. ABSTRACT Dr Tim Morris has served as the Independent Scientific Adviser to the Greyhound Board of Great Britain since February 2014. A graduate of the Royal Veterinary College (RVC), he began his career in veterinary practice before returning to the RVC to complete a PhD. He went on to hold a range of positions in research, clinical veterinary medicine, and public affairs at GlaxoSmithKline. From 2008 to 2013, he was Director of Equine Science and Welfare at the British Horseracing Authority. Dr Morris is a Visiting Professor at the University of Nottingham School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, a Fellow of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, and an affiliate member of the Association of Official Racing Chemists. He has also been extensively involved with veterinary and scientific organisations, governments, industry and industry bodies, and with animal welfare charities. Tim Morris Scientialis Ltd, St Albans, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom. School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom. Challenges and Opportunities in Managing Unknowing Liability Across Animal Sports
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