Crackdown on clenbuterol use

AUSTRALIAN racing authorities are launching a crackdown on a drug which can mimic the impact of anabolic steroids and has often caused a black eye in American racing.

Clenbuterol can make breathing easier for horses with respiratory disease by relaxing the muscles in the lungs and widening the airways.

However, it has reportedly been widely abused in the US.

When regularly administered to horses, clenbuterol can have a significant anabolic (muscle-building) effect.

Australian racing is set to enforce a new threshold screening limit of allowed clenbuterol of 0.1 ng/ml in urine from April 1.

Integrity officials say it is the latest move to crack down on the potential for drug cheating in all three codes.

“Due to the drug’s side effects, participants who administer high doses of clenbuterol can gain an unfair advantage when racing,” Queensland Racing Integrity Commission boss Shane Gillard (pictured) said.

“The lowered screening limit has been introduced to deter the misuse of registered products to take advantage of the anabolic steroid side effects but will have a marginal impact on those using these preparations in accordance with the manufacturer’s treatment guidance.

“I encourage all participants across thoroughbred and harness racing codes to ensure their treatment protocols align with the new screening limit, as those found to be noncompliant will be penalised.”

Previous clenbuterol testing has not been based on a Racing Australia-approved clenbuterol screening limit.

Testing was based on the detection time in urine of three to four days following oral administration, as stipulated in Equine Veterinarians Australia’s publication Detection of Therapeutic Substances in Racing Horses.