SA will follow IFHA rules, says Pillay

The National Horseracing Authority (NHA), which polices South African horseracing, is still fine-tuning a rule change implemented just over a year ago concerning the use of anabolic steroids, according to chief executive Denzil Pillay.

The rule is as punitive in racing stables as the British Horseracing Authority’s declaration of “zero-tolerance” and is geared towards being expanded as resources in terms of manpower and money become available.

An amendment was made to Rule 73 on 1 December 2013 to fall in line with other members of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities. It included the total ban on the use of anabolic steroids on any registered horse in the country. This across-the-board ban of anabolic steroids for even out-of-competition horses was implemented in South Africa in June last year.

The rule initially allowed for the “legal” use of an anabolic steroid if permission was obtained from the NHA and if it was given under the supervision of the body’s registered veterinary surgeon. The rule was later changed and anabolic steroids now fall within the rules relating to forbidden substances ( Rule 74). A horse found to have been administered an anabolic steroid will be suspended from racing for a year. In the case of other forbidden substances, the horse may not race for 180 days.

“Out-of-competition testing is imperative because an anabolic steroid would be administered way in advance of a horse running in a race,” said Pillay, who added that the figure for such testing in racing stables had risen from 200 to 400 tests at an additional cost of about R170,000 a year. The specimens are collected by stipendiary stewards and a NHA veterinary surgeon.

“So far there have been no reports of any occurrence of anabolic steroids in any of the tests we have performed, but we are still discussing how to enhance and expand our selection and collection procedures.”

* The NHA has published a list of prohibited substances on its website.