Curbs on steroids for horses supported, By: Gregory Hall
Panel wants more data before policy is decided

August 24, 2007

LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Amid a growing push to curtail the use of anabolic steroids in racehorses, the Kentucky Equine Drug Research Council yesterday endorsed tougher restrictions but called for more information before deciding on a policy.

The council, which makes recommendations to the Kentucky Horse Racing Authority, considered a national model rule supported by the Racing Medication Testing Consortium and the Association of Racing Commissioners International.

The rule would allow only four types of steroids to be used on a horse: a form of stanozolol, boldenone, nandrolone and testosterone.

Council members said they needed more information before recommending a specific proposal. That information included establishing blood levels that would result in a positive finding and setting time guidelines for when the medications should be withheld before a race.

Anabolic steroids can have a therapeutic benefit in a horse, said Foster Northrop, a veterinarian who practices at racetracks in Kentucky, Florida and New York. "But I agree wholeheartedly that they are extremely abused and the abuse needs to stop."

Northrop said he believes the abuse is not as bad in Kentucky as in other states where he practices.

If rules are reasonable concerning when a steroid should not be given before a race, Northrop said he believes most veterinarians would go along with a regulation.

But veterinarians will want to see any steroid regulation covering racing to be followed by horse auction companies as well, he said.

"We need to protect the buyer because we're running out of them," Northrop said. "We're running out of owners. We better wake up."

David Switzer, executive director of the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association, said sales companies could have tougher policies on abuse of anabolic steroids in place by next year.

Horse auctions are not regulated by the racing authority.