New Rules Lead to Spike in Indiana Positives
Description:
The adoption of new model rules on medication use has led to a spike in positive tests in Indiana.
The Indiana Horse Racing Commission reported Dec. 18 a total of 47 rulings for positive tests for prohibited substances or substances over threshold levels at the 2014 Indiana Grand race meet. Of the total, 24 were Thoroughbred horses and 23 were Quarter Horses. An additional 15 tests currently await adjudication, of which 11 are Thoroughbreds and four are Quarter Horses.
A number of factors contributed to the record positive count, according to Joe Gorajec, the IHRC's executive director.
The two most significant factors were the adoption of Association of Racing Commissioners International Model Medication Rules with regulatory threshold levels for a large number of therapeutic medications, and the primary testing lab's delay in reporting positive test results.
Earlier this year, prior to the commencement of the Indiana Grand race meet, the commission adopted the model rules. The spike in Indiana mirrored what most other racing jurisdiction reported after adopting the new rules, accorind to Gorajec.
"With the horsemen, both in Indiana and nationally, becoming acclimated to the new threshold levels and timely lab reports, I'd expect to see a substantial decline in positive tests in 2015," Gorajec said in a statement.
The commission staff is working with the Indiana Department of Administration to issue a new Request for Proposal to identify a new lab for 2015. Commission staff, along with IDOA, will evaluate lab proposals. Pursuant to the state's procurement process, the final selection will be made by the IDOA.
The new RFP will require the applicant lab submit an education plan geared at horsemen and veterinarians.
"Our goal is for horsemen to utilize therapeutic drugs responsibly and avoid positive tests," said Gorajec.
A synopsis of all 2014 positive test rulings to date is provided on IHRC's website.