TBA President Defends Breeding Industry

Basil Nolan, president of Thoroughbred Breeders Australia, has thrown his support behind the country's breeders and stud farms in the wake of a positive steroid test from last month's Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. A colt sold at the sale tested positive for altrenogist, a substance found in Regu-Mate, which regulates cycles and maintains pregnancies in fillies and mares, but it is being debated whether Regu-Mate belongs on the list of banned steroids devised by the Australian Racing Board and the Principal Racing Association last May. Regu-Mate is permitted for fillies and mares on raceday, but not for males; however, it is sometimes used on stud farms and at sales to modify studish behaviour. 
“This is not an anabolic steroid and should never have been placed on the banned list,” Nolan said in a release. “The TBA has no problem with testing for anabolic steroids, but we have a grave concern that a yearling has tested positive to a drug that's commonly used on studs and at sales throughout Australia. It is not performance or growth enhancing, which is why it is not prohibited in fillies and mares. Ultimately, this is not an anabolic steroid.” 
Nolan pointed to the fact that the environments at races and sales differ greatly. At the sales, young colts and fillies are expected to stand in their boxes for up to two weeks. 
“The races and sales are poles apart, and that should have been considered before the Australian Racing Board and Principal Racing Association placed altrenogest on the banned list,” he said. 
Nolan noted there was a lack of consultation with the breeding industry when Australia's anabolic steroids rules were put into place. 
“It was simply policy on the run–it was not thought through at all and now we are paying the price. Our industry is now being ridiculed with aspersions that all these yearlings are being doped. It's totally unfair and the breeding industry is rightly up-in-arms,” he said. 
The Australian Racing Board is currently reviewing the situation and has said Regu-Mate may be removed from the banned list.