A year on from the introduction of Australian Harness Racing Rules (AHRR) to ban the use of anabolic steroids - Harness Racing Australia is issuing a reminder to highlight the implications and to provide information to assist owners, trainers and veterinarians.
Which steroids are banned under these rules?
The AHRR rules introduced on 1 May 2014 banned the use of "anabolic androgenic steroids" in Standardbred horses at any time from birth until retirement.
The "anabolic androgenic steroids" include those that are currently registered in Australia by the APVMA for use in horses, such as boldenone, ethylestrenol (in Nitrotain), methandriol, nandrolone, stanozolol and testosterone.
They also include but are not limited to those listed in the WADA prohibited list, such as 1-androstenediol; 1-androstenedione; bolandiol; bolasterone; boldione; calusterone; clostebol; danazol; dehydrochlormethyltestosterone; desoxymethyltestosterone; drostanolone; fluoxymesterone; formebolone; furazabol; gestrinone; 4-hydroxytestosterone; mestanolone; mesterolone; metenolone; methandienone; methasterone; methyldienolone; methyl-1-testosterone; methylnortestosterone; methyltestosterone; metribolone; mibolerone; 19-norandrostenedione; norboletone; norclostebol; norethandrolone; oxabolone; oxandrolone; oxymesterone; oxymetholone; prostanozol; quinbolone; stenbolone; 1-testosterone; tetrahydrogestrinone (THG); trenbolone; and other substances with a similar chemical structure or similar biological effect(s).
Altrenogest (in, for example, Regumate) is still permitted to be used in fillies and mares to regulate their oestrus cycle.
Which horses are affected by these rules?
The use of anabolic androgenic steroids are banned in all Standardbreds from birth until retirement as a racehorse. There are no therapeutic exemptions of any kind. The ban applies to all unregistered and registered Standardbred racehorses of any age. Standardbreds can be tested at any time and this includes when spelling, training and racing.
Can I have anabolic steroids present in my stables even when prescribed by a veterinarian?
No – the possession of any anabolic androgenic steroid, including oral paste preparations such as Nitrotain, at any premise used in relation to the training and racing of horses is an offence under the rules.
Further, any person who either administers or attempts to administer an anabolic androgenic steroid to a Standardbred horse at any time commits an offence under these rules.
How is compliance with this ban enforced by State Controlling Bodies?
Compliance with these rules is enforced by State Controlling Bodies through regular stable inspections, inspections of medications and medication records, and regular out of competition testing of Standardbred horses, as well as through routine race day sampling.
Any registered Standardbred that tests positive at any time for a banned anabolic androgenic steroid will not be eligible to trial or race for 12 months from the date of collection of the sample.
Any unregistered horse that tests positive at any time for a banned anabolic androgenic steroid will not be eligible to trial or race for 12 months from the later of a) the date on which the horse, having been registered, is allowed to start in a race or b) the date of collection of the sample.
What about imported horses?
All unregistered and registered Standardbred racehorses of any age in Australia are covered by these rules - be they permanent or temporary residents.
Given the differing approaches and varying drug control regimes in other countries, connections are encouraged to exercise caution, ask questions and be aware of the relevant rules and implications for Standardbred racehorses horses in Australia.
The upholding of penalties and sanctions across international jurisdictions is undertaken by signatories to the International Trotting Association (ITA) Constitution which includes a reciprocity agreement.
Click here to view the Australian Harness Racing Rules relating to the ban of Anabolic Steroids.
