CHRB committee approves regulations on anabolic steroids, clenbuterol
January 13, 2007
Regulations that could lead to a ban of anabolic steroids and the bronchodilator clenbuterol in horses entered to race in California were approved on Tuesday by the California Horse Racing Board’s medication committee
The proposed regulations, as well as board’s adoption of strict penalty guidelines for violations of those and other medication regulations, will be discussed by the full board at the January 23 monthly meeting in Arcadia, California.
If approved by the board, the rule amendments for clenbuterol and the penalty guidelines would begin the regulatory approval process, including 45 days of public comment followed by a public hearing.
The penalty guidelines would include stricter sanctions for some violations, and extend accountability to owners, veterinarians, and other licensees.
Anabolic steroids and clenbuterol could still be used in some situations to protect the health of racehorses in California if the amendments ultimately gain final approval from the board. However, horses would have to be completely free of those drugs before they could race.
“I believe [clenbuterol] is being widely used as performance enhancing, not strictly as a bronchodilator,” CHRB Chairman Richard Shapiro said. “I would like a rule that expands the time period when it can be administered before a race to 28 days or whatever the timeframe should be, so that it can only be used for legitimate therapeutic treatment.
“I accept that clenbuterol has a very good therapeutic use, but when it is being given to most of the horses, I believe it is being overused for competitive purposes rather than therapeutic purposes. If a horse requires clenbuterol for health reasons, that’s fine. If it means the horse cannot race for 30 days, so be it. This will ensure that clenbuterol will not be used for non-therapeutic purposes.”
Veterinarian Rick Arthur, the equine medical director for the CHRB, explained why clenbuterol is important in treating the common problem of small airway disease in racehorses.
CHRB Vice Chairman John Harris said he was not convinced that clenbuterol is a drug of abuse, and he recommended more research be done.
Several horse owners and trainers at the meeting said they were concerned about clenbuterol.
Trainer John Shirreffs said horses exercise faster when they are given clenbuterol, which he considers “a strong stimulant.”
Trainer Jenine Sahadi said she believes that 95% of the horses are given clenbuterol during training.
Shapiro again took a hard line on anabolic steroids, recommending that California “lead the way” in abolishing their use in racehorses
“I just don’t see why racing should permit the use of anabolic steroids at all. What is the therapeutic purpose in racing?”
“I agree with you,” said Harris, “but still let’s make sure we have good science involved.”
Arthur recommended eventually classifying anabolic steroids as a Class 3 substance that calls for the automatic forfeiture of purse money upon a positive test.
