RCI Request Would Change RMTC's Current Role

In a move regulators say would streamline the process of rule-making in the areas of medication policy and testing standards, the Association of Racing Commissioners International has asked that the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium be merged into a new RCI scientific advisory board.

The move would eliminate the current role of the RMTC in initially shaping rules, providing industry expertise in shaping new policies, and presenting recommendations to regulators. The RCI called on the RMTC to merge into a permanent scientific advisory board, the Drug Testing Standards and Practices Committee, that will develop policy recommendations.

Regulators said industry members of the consortium would still be heard on the reshaped RCI committee.

RMTC spokeswoman Hallie Roach Lewis Dec. 16 said the organization had no immediate comment. She said the RMTC Executive Committee would review the proposal.

"The RCI board believes the advisory process on racing medication and anti-doping policy can be strengthened and redundancies eliminated," said RCI chairman John Ward Jr., executive director of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission. "As regulators, we have the exclusive responsibility to make and enforce the rules, and given current challenges, we believe it is time to restructure the advisory process to make it stronger."

RCI said the action was prompted by numerous factors including functional concerns about the current scientific advisory process, transparency, non-participation of key experts, and the withdrawal of the United States Trotting Association from the RMTC.

Regulators from 21 major racing jurisdictions, including California, Florida, Kentucky, and New York, directed RCI president Ed Martin to send a formal letter to the RMTC proposing a partial or complete merger of the organization into a reconstituted RCI Drug Testing Standards and Practices Committee.

"Given the economic challenges faced by the racing industry, we believe any effort to eliminate redundancies and simplify processes is the right way to go," Martin said.

In the letter, Martin cited frustration with a lack of industry consensus from the RMTC. This year the USTA refused to sign on certain model drug rules and left the organization; it believes some different rules are needed for different breeds. The USTA vehemently opposed the longer withdrawal time for the bronchodilator clenbuterol, which is part of the uniform rules.

RCI said the RMTC also has seen the departure of some science advisers deemed essential by key regulatory jurisdictions. Also, Martin noted late modifications to recent recommended policy submissions after the commencement of regulatory rule promulgations.

"In recent years the credibility of the current RMTC process has been questioned," Martin said in the Dec. 15 letter to the RMTC board and RMTC chairman Alex Waldrop. "In some quarters, confidence has eroded, even among some of the RMTC's strongest historical supporters."



Kent Stirling, an RMTC Board member and chair of the National Horsemen Benevolent and Protective Association's Medication Committee thinks consolidation is needed.

"As a Board member of the RMTC since its inception, I was always gratified to see everyone's opinion considered, no matter how diverse, as we began to seriously move together towards creating rules that would produce national uniformity in our sport," Stirling said. "In the last few years, this has not been the case as one group has clearly dominated the RMTC, and, in my opinion, stolen its independence. I applaud the RCI for its invitation to create a new partnership with the RMTC to better serve our industry. I hope the invitation is accepted."



The HBPA said the RMTC is embracing scientific study in developing new policies.

"All equine racing medication scientific research should be transparent, independently researched, peer reviewed, and publically available for analysis by the scientific community and interested industry participants," said national HBPA president Robin Richards, "and the RCI's action should facilitate this process."

The RCI letter also outlined a streamlined process that would see new rule proposals start with an RCI group. Under the outline, the RCI Scientific Advisory Group would begin the process followed by the reconstituted RCI Drug Testing Standards and Practices Committee, which would include regulatory and industry input. It also would consider input from regulatory veterinarians, regulatory attorneys, and equine welfare committees.

Membership on the scientific advisory board is by appointment of the RCI chairperson. Information as to its membership will be posted on the RCI website when fully constituted.

The final three steps would remain the same as currently in place. Proposals would be considered by the RCI Model Rules Committee, the RCI Board of Directors and membership, and then its member commissions. The RCI makes model rule recommendations that its members are then encouraged to adopt at the state level.

The letter noted that currently before the regulatory group considers a new recommendation, the proposal goes through the RMTC Scientific Advisory Committee, the RMTC Executive Committee, and the RMTC board of directors. 

In the letter Martin said he hopes the various constituencies involved in the RMTC would participate on the reshaped Drug Testing Standards and Practices Committee. The current RMTC includes representation from veterinarians, racetracks, breed associations, horsemen, Breeders' Cup, NTRA, and Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association. 

"Please know that we encourage and value the direct and continued input and involvement of various stakeholder entities," Martin said.

The RCI said that should the RMTC accept an invitation to merge, it would not be the first time RCI has worked to effectuate a racing industry merger. In 2005, the North American Pari-Mutuel Regulators Association merged with RCI.