Clenbuterol Found in 77% of Indicted Trainers' Horses

Testing of nearly 100 Thoroughbreds previously raced by trainers indicted in March on performance-enhancing drug charges indicated that 77% showed the presence of clenbuterol, according to Dr. Scott Palmer, the equine medical director for the New York State Gaming Commission.

Trainers Jorge Navarro and Jason Servis are two of the most prominent people accused of using and distributing misbranded drugs. Their horses, who were required by racing authorities to join other stables, were tested following the indictments this spring before the horses were eventually allowed to return to competition.

Clenbuterol is a medication that can be used therapeutically to assist horses with respiratory difficulties but is suspected to have been abused due to its muscle-development properties. It is listed by the Association of Racing Commissioners International as a Class 3 drug carrying a B-level penalty for Thoroughbreds and has a 14-day withdrawal period.

Palmer made remarks about clenbuterol during a Nov. 11 teleconference to discuss the success of the Mid-Atlantic Strategic Plan to Reduce Equine Fatalities, echoing earlier statements he made regarding the drug this year.

"When we asked for the medical records on these horses—we haven't gotten through them all yet—but we haven't found any that had clenbuterol administration listed in the medical records," Palmer said. "That's a strong indication that this drug has been given for purposes other than the normal, prescribed reason for getting clenbuterol."

In October, the group behind the plan moved to restrict the use of clenbuterol for tracks in that region. Their new rule requires regulatory approval for treatment, mandates that the horse be placed on the veterinarian's list, and bars the horse from racing until it tests negative in both blood and urine and completes a satisfactory workout observed by a regulatory veterinarian.

BloodHorse: Mid-Atlantic States to Add Clenbuterol Restrictions

"After months and months of these tests, we finally have concrete evidence that clenbuterol was being widely abused in the Thoroughbred horses," Palmer said. "With that information in hand then, we were able to make these recommendations, and we need to have much stricter regulations about clenbuterol. And I know you're familiar with the recent requirements—again, this is now a prohibited substance. This is going to be introduced in New York shortly, and it's going to be widely adopted in the Mid-Atlantic region."

The changes followed an agreement from a 31-member Mid-Atlantic coalition of regulatory and stakeholder organizations representing all seven states in the region. The effort calls for the new standards to be in place by next year.

Maryland began its rulemaking process Oct. 22 and will apply the new restricted rule to both Thoroughbred and Standardbred racehorses, according to a release from plan organizers late last month. Also in that release, officials said New York intends to propose a rule amendment in November, with other jurisdictions aiming for enactment in 2021.

Outside the Mid-Atlantic, this spring Canada extended its guidance on clenbuterol from seven days away from a race to 28 days.