Sports Betting News: BHA & IHRB Launch Joint Anti-Doping Initiative

The governing bodies for horse racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland have vowed to implement a ‘zero tolerance’ doping policy in the sport. 
 
The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) and the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB) will pool their resources to ensure that testing hits unprecedented levels. 
 
Read on as we look at this latest development in UK and Irish horse racing, before assessing some of the other top stories from the sports betting industry this week. 

The BHA and IHRB will combine their resources to increase doping tests across both jurisdictions, handing a major integrity boost to horse racing betting sites. 
 
The collaboration was launched at 14 training yards in Ireland, with nearly 250 samples taken from more than 120 horses entered in the 2024 Cheltenham Festival. 
 
All samples will be tested by a laboratory approved by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA), ensuring the UK and Ireland adheres to best international practices. 

Sportradar has extended its partnership with Bundesliga International, taking their agreement up to the end of the 2031/32 season. 
 
The deal gives Sportradar the exclusive rights to distribute data and sublicense video content from Germany to football betting sites across the world. 
  
Betting and streaming rights for the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 are covered by the agreement along with WOW Virtual Bundesliga – an exciting eSports league. 

Conservative MP Philip Davies blasted the UK government for its negative attitude towards sports bettors during a recent debate about proposed affordability checks. 
 
Davies claimed it was unacceptable for ‘individual freedom and individual responsibility’ to be removed from the equation when punters decide how much they want to bet. 
 
The Conservative MP suggested that time-related deposit limits agreed between betting sites and punters are a more palatable solution to problem gambling than intrusive affordability checks.