>The rules of racing are intended to maintain a level playing field; any drug testing program is meant to monitor compliance to those rules. In reality, drug testing is a deterrent. For truly illicit activity where the intent is to take an unfair advantage (cheat), the current program in California is working well. But we know it isn’t perfect. We are always looking for holes in the system and ways to improve the program.
The CHRB began conducting out-of-competition testing as a routine part of their drug regulation program in mid-February. Blood doping agents are the targets of this testing. Specifically, these are epoetin (Epogen®, Procrit®, “EPO”) and darbepoetin (Aranesp®). These drugs are synthetic forms of the natural hormone erythropoietin; they all stimulate red blood cell production. These drugs are administered several days in advance of racing and will not be detected in post-race testing. Out-of-competition testing is the only way these drugs can be identified. This is the reason out of competition is critical in human sports testing. Other prohibited peptide hormones will be included in the testing protocol as those tests are brought on line. We will not be testing for routine therapeutic medications, but we will be specifically testing for the synthetic hemoglobin Oxyglobin®.
Horses are selected for out-of-competition testing by both random
and non-random methods. Non-random methods will have specific objective
criteria to identify a group of horses. For example, last fall horses
nominated to the Cal Cup was the selection criteria. Trainers will not
be targeted by non-random methods without cause. We have tried to make
the program as unobtrusive as possible. This is a new program; we
welcome constructive recommendations to make the sampling process easier
for everyone. A key element to this program is unpredictability so we
will not be able to restrict testing to any specific day or days.
The CHRB will be expanding its program of freezing routine,
cleared samples for retroactive testing. Retroactive testing will
involve testing random samples with new tests or selecting specific
samples based on specific information. If an illicit drug is being used
for which we did not have a test at the time the sample was analyzed, we
now have the ability to go back and re-examine the sample with a new
test.
We are also in the process of developing the anabolic steroid
testing program. Currently, nandrolone (Durabolin®), boldenone
(Equipoise®), stanazolol (Winstrol-V®), and testosterone are Class IV
drugs and will be handled as category D penalties (warnings) under the
new penalty guidelines. All other anabolic steroids are at least Class
III violations. We will be asking trainers and veterinarians to assist
us in developing withdrawal time information to avoid future problems.
Within the next 12 months, anabolic steroids are expected to be
regulated in most states. Congressman Whitfield of Kentucky has
introduced federal legislation requiring a total prohibition as opposed
to the proposed regulation state by state.
A new website should be of use to trainers and veterinarians. The
RMTC is hosting a site for withdrawal time information around the
country for cooperative jurisdictions. The site is www.rmtcnet.com; go
to the Withdrawal Times box and follow the instructions. These are the
best available estimates at this time for California and many other
states. Not all drug withdrawal times are available, but additional
information will be added in the future as it becomes available.
Horsemen need to be aware several drugs remain problematic:
Fluephenazine is a long-acting tranquilizer. Two separate
fluphenazine (Prolixin®) positives are working through the process where
the administration periods were purported to be 14 days and 16 days
prior to racing. These administration dates are supported by the
veterinarians’ confidential reports. Unfortunately, fluephenazine has
been shown to be pharmacologically active for over a month and is a
Class II violation, a serious offense. This should raise concern for any
trainer or veterinarian when fluephenazine is being administered
anywhere close to a race. A 30-day withdrawal time is recommended as a
minimum until more research information becomes available. Be aware this
drug is confirmed in the blood rather than urine because of its unique
elimination characteristics.
Hydroxyzine is a very useful medication for chronic allergies,
including urticaia (hives) and respiratory allergies. Hydroxyzine
metabolizes to ceterizine, which is also a pharmacologically active
drug. Hydroxizine is administered orally and the last two positives
have been in powdered formulations prepared by a veterinary compounding
pharmacy. As with all oral medications administered by barn personnel,
mistakes are easy to make. A single oral dose of 250mg clears in 96
hours, but we have seen 8 times this dose on some prescriptions. The
trainers have claimed they stopped the medication at 5 days in two of
the cases. A seven-day withdrawal time may not be adequate at high doses
or when using compounded preparations.
Methocarbamol continues to be a problem. We had suspected these
violations were coming from compounded injectable methocarbamol with
inconsistently formulated strengths. That may be a factor, but the most
common finding is oral administration along with a methocarbamol
injection at 48 hours. Again, oral administration increases the chance
for management error and can be expected to extend the delectability of
the drug in post-race samples.
TCO2 is still occasionally a problem, but we believe some
violations may be inadvertent. We advise trainers to minimize and
closely monitor their pre-race medication schemes, keep your horse well
hydrated, and never administer an imbalanced or excessive electrolyte
load. A significant number of horses have been administered one or
another paste formulation of vitamins and/or electrolytes within 24
hours of the race. Many of these paste vitamin/electrolyte preparations
contain bicarbonate or other alkalizing agents. Some certainly have high
electrolyte concentrations. Be aware that these products are not
permitted on race day. Oddly, there is a glaring disparity between
northern and southern California. There has been about twice the rate of
violations in northern California as in southern California, which was
not case prior to last summer. We do know the pre-race medication
protocols are different between the north and south. Regardless, the
pre-race testing TCO2 program has worked well to deter the race day use
of alkalizing agents. We have had only one trainer exceed 39 mmls/l
since the CHRB took over the program and he received a 15-day suspension
for the violations. The warnings letters for over 36mmls/l has also
worked well. Prior to this program, the rate of samples 36.0mmls/l or
higher was 1.4%; the rate is now at 0.2%.
Methamphetamine is a great concern to every regulator and should
be to every trainer. This is our most common Class I violation. These
are most likely from human derived contamination by someone in the barn
having a “meth” drug abuse problem. This is a surprisingly common and
cheap drug. We do not believe there has been intent to drug any of the
horses, but amphetamines cannot be tolerated in horse racing for obvious
reasons. The lightest penalty for the trainer to date has been a
120-day suspension.
There are several developments of importance to trainers in the
enforcement and hearing process. The CHRB has been willing to settle
cases administratively if a trainer so desires. Any settlement has to be
mutually acceptable to both parties. Whether to settle a complaint or
go to hearing is entirely up to the licensee. All settlement agreements
must be approved by the Board of Stewards or the Board. As CHRB policy,
all settlements are publicly announced. The other change we are seeking
is in the hearing process where Class I, II, & III violations would
be heard first in front of a hearing officer or the Board of Stewards
rather than the Office of Administrative Hearings. This requires
legislative changes currently under consideration in Sacramento. Lastly,
the new penalty guidelines will soon be finalized. The penalties are
significant for Class I, II, & III violations, but the hearing
officer or Board of Stewards must take into account mitigating factors
from the licensee and aggravating from the state. The intention is to
allow a fairer process for the trainer or any other licensee charged in
the complaint.
Lastly, under the new penalty guidelines with NSAID violations
(phenylbutazone, flunixin, ketoprofen), the trainer can elect to deal
directly to the Official Veterinarian with a set penalty schedule or to
go to the Board of Stewards for a formal hearing. All penalties in this
category call for higher fines than have typically been issued under the
current process. Fines are significantly higher for multiple violations
and especially high levels of the NSAID’s.
The CHRB’s hope is that the programs we have established will
protect the integrity of our racing, be fair to all horsemen, and reduce
violations over time. The goal is for California to have the cleanest,
fairest racing in the United States.