NM Will Suspend Horses Who Fail Drug Tests
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Photo: Courtesy of Sunland Park
Sunland Park
Horses who test positive for some substances in New Mexico effectively will be suspended for at least 60 days through use of the state’s stewards’ list.
The rule, which began June 29, would effectively suspend any horse for about two months for any substance:
* listed in the Penalty Class A category of the Association of Racing Commissioners International’s uniform classification guidelines for foreign substances;
* any prohibited androgenic steroid or any anabolic steroid in excess of permitted concentrations;
* clenbuterol or other beta-agonist drugs with significant anabolic effects;
* other drugs designed to promote muscle growth, including but not limited to growth hormones, somatotropins, insulin growth factors, and;
* gene-modifying agents, and cobalt in excess of allowable concentrations.
The new rule was written by New Mexico Racing Commission medical director Dr. Scot Waterman, the former executive director of the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium.
In a press release NMRC executive director Ismael “Izzy” Trejo said the rule has the support of the New Mexico Horse Breeders Association, New Mexico Horsemen’s Association, and state tracks.
“In all my time spent regulating horse racing in other jurisdictions, never have I experienced such unity amongst all stakeholders in creating an environment that is best for horse racing and the horse itself,” Trejo said in a release.
The new rule mandates that horses who test positive for such substances stay on the stewards’ list for a minimum of 60 days. After the 60 days is up, the owner or trainer of the horse must present the horse to the test barn for the official veterinarian to obtain a blood sample for analysis. If the sample comes back positive for any of the prohibited substances previously mentioned, the horse shall remain on the stewards’ list for an additional 60 days. If the analysis comes back negative, the horse will be removed from the stewards’ list and be permitted to enter and run in races once again.