New anti-doping laws implemented by BHA

STRINGENT: ZERO TOLERANCE APPROACH TO ANABOLIC STEROIDS

Publication of rules marks the conclusion of a project initiated in 2013.

London

British Racing’s enhanced Equine AntiDoping Rules, which include a zero-tolerance approach to anabolic steroids, have been published by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA).

They were implemented from 2 March 2015.

The BHA implemented a programme of contact with those the new rules might affect, both domestically and internationally, to ensure there was awareness across world racing of the rules’ requirements.

This includes the publication of a comprehensive guide explaining what people responsible for horses must do to ensure they adhere to the rules.

This guide has been distributed to relevant bodies in Britain and internationally, as well as sent directly to all licensed trainers and registered owners in Britain. The guide can be downloaded at www.britishhorseracing.com/ resource- centre/ anti- dopingmedicationcontrol/equine-antidoping-rules-and-guidance/.

The enhanced zero-tolerance policy, first announced in June 2014, aims to ensure British racing remains at the forefront of tackling an issue that ranks among the biggest threats faced by any world sport. Included in the rules are: * A horse must never be administered with an anabolic steroid at any time from birth to retirement;

* Greater powers for the BHA in terms of access for testing registered horses;

* Horses to be registered from a younger age and for the BHA to be aware of their whereabouts at all times;

* More stringent penalties for horses found to have been administered with anabolic steroids; and

* Greater controls over horses running in Great Britain from international jurisdictions.

The publication of the rules marks the end of a project started in 2013 to establish how British Racing would not only adhere to, but exceed where possible, the international minimum standards on steroid use, as published by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) in October 2013.

Nick Rust, Chief Executive of the BHA, said: “The publication of the new rules marks another step on the journey for both British racing and the racing community internationally, which has included the BHA consulting with racing bodies around the world.

“Following the events of 2013 it was essential that the BHA ensured that British racing would remain at the forefront of a critical topic for not only racing but all modern sports. The enhanced, zero-tolerance rules represent exactly that.

“By ‘zero-tolerance’ we mean that no horse should ever be administered an anabolic steroid or similar substance for as long as it is involved in racing, with no exceptions. This policy is supported by the enhanced powers which we can now call upon both to regulate the sport and to deter those who believe they can succeed in circumventing the rules.

“As well as the enhancement of our own rules, the BHA has adopted a leadership role internationally which was integral to the introduction of the IFHA’s minimum standards. The March implementation date does not mark the end of this process. The BHA will continue this role and ensure that British and international racing does all within its power to remain at the forefront of combating doping. We hope that the steps we have taken will lead other nations to follow suit and implement rules as stringent as ours, for the good of the sport and the horse.

“There is no current evidence that the use of anabolic steroids or other similar substances is endemic in British racing. We showed in 2013 that when it does take place we are able to detect it and act on it. But we must never be complacent.”

Jamie Stier, Director of Raceday Operations and Regulation for the BHA, said: “The new rules mean that there are extended responsibilities for owners, trainers and breeders to ensure that they comply with the zero-tolerance policy. However, we have taken care to ensure that these are not overly onerous.

“Similarly, connections of international runners now have extra responsibility when running horses in Britain. We do not anticipate this being a major barrier to international horses competing here and we discussed the policy and rules at length with the relevant racecourses to ensure their support of the strategy before it was published. It was agreed by all that it was a necessary step to ensure a level playing field at our highest profile events.”

Rupert Arnold, Chief Executive of the National Trainers Federation (NTF), said: “The BHA has produced a very comprehensive guide to the new Equine Antidoping Rules. The policy has the potential to influence the racing and bloodstock industries internationally. It is right that British racing takes the lead in this area and we support the BHA wholeheartedly.”

The headline elements of the rules are:

* A racehorse must not be administered an anabolic steroid at any point in its life.

* Any horse administered an anabolic steroid will face a mandatory stand-down period from training for 12 months and ineligible to start in any race in Britain for 14 months.

* All horses must be available for testing at any time, regardless of physical location and whose care the horse is under, from the time it is first registered with the General Stud Book.

* The responsible person will be the trainer while the horse is under their care or control and the owner at all other times. The owner of a horse not yet in training shall be presumed to be the breeder of the horse unless proven otherwise.

* All horses born in Great Britain must be registered with Weatherbys within 12 months of birth, phased to six months in two years. Permanently imported horses must be registered with Weatherbys within 90 days of arrival in Britain accompanied by a sample that shows no evidence of administration of anabolic steroids or other banned substances at all times.

* Due to their like-policies, horses imported from Ireland, France and Germany which have spent 12 months under their equivalent policies will be exempt from this requirement. Likewise, runners from Ireland, France and Germany will be treated as British runners and sampled as per the standard testing policy.

* All other foreign runners must be in Britain (and BHA notified of their whereabouts) a minimum of 10 business days in advance of their intended race to facilitate post-arrival sampling and analysis, the results of which will be received prior to the horse running. The sample must show no evidence of administration of anabolic steroids or other substances banned at all times. When the horse runs, it will also be subject to the standard testing policy.

The rules apply not only to anabolic steroids but all substances and methods listed in Manual G, schedule 1. The categories are: anabolic agents; substances not approved for veterinary use; peptide hormones, growth factors and related substances; hormone and metabolic modulators; manipulation of blood and blood components; blood transfusions; genetic and cellular manipulation; oxygen carriers.

The IFHA minimum standard states it considers anabolic steroids to have no place in horseracing, and will work with jurisdictions that may permit exceptional use for therapeutic purposes only, subject to stringent controls and a minimum stand-down period to eliminate performance enhancing effects.