By Graham Dunbar, The Associated Press

LAUSANNE, Switzerland - International Equestrian Federation members will vote this week on cleaning up their sport's persistent drug problems.

Proposals include creating an independent investigations unit, improving stables security at top events and educating riders about 1,000 substances which are banned for use on horses in competition. FEI leaders hope victory in Thursday's poll at their general assembly in Copenhagen will address doping issues that have marred equestrian events at recent Olympics Games.

They aim to have no failed drug tests at the 2012 London Games when horse sport will mark 100 years on the Olympic program.

"That is the ultimate goal," FEI legal director Lisa Lazarus said. "There is no reason to have any positive violations in London if everything is working properly."

If approved, the rules will take effect in January and face a first big test at the 2010 World Equestrian Games in the United States. World championships in eight disciplines will be held Sept. 25-Oct. 10 in Lexington, Kentucky.

The slate of changes took one year to produce after the FEI ordered two special commissions and consulted the sport's stakeholders.

FEI secretary general Alex McLin said the 133 national federations supported the modernizing program.

"It's been extremely positive," he said. "There's been no doubt that this was something that needs to be done."

Arne Ljungqvist, a leading anti-doping expert, led a review of the FEI's testing procedures which many riders said were unclear and led to horses testing positive for substances which were permitted for use in training.

Former London Metropolitan Police chief John Stevens held an ethics inquiry into allegations about Germany's treatment of horses at the Beijing Olympics where it topped the equestrian medal table. The German federation has since disbanded its team.

The commissions have jointly called for an integrity unit, more targeted out-of-competition tests and requiring riders to log each horse's drug treatments.

McLin said an outsourced investigations unit would be modeled on those employed by the governing bodies of cricket and tennis, and would act on intelligence gathered from a telephone hot line.

Improved security at competitions could see surveillance cameras used in stables, controlled access for accredited staff and veterinarians limited to treating horses in designated areas.

The FEI also wants to professionalize the work of stewards and vets in a sport that has relied on volunteers, many from federations contesting medals.

"We need to go a step further to ensure that we don't put our officials in a position where they are conflicted," McLin said.

The FEI accepts that its old system lacked clarity and will now help riders, vets and stable staff better understand the risks of being caught doping. It has created an online database of medications listed by brand names, with advice in less scientific language.

The FEI expects to double its spending on drug testing and education within its annual budget of US$29.5 million.

"This is essentially priceless," McLin said. "The sport cannot afford not to do this."