Australian Racing Board's chief executive Peter McGauran has announced the launch of a review into the series of decisions that led to a colt from the Magic Millions Gold Coast sale being declared positive to an anabolic steroid only for the incriminated substance, altrenogest, to be eventually ruled as not belonging to this category. Alternogest is a synthetic hormone notably contained in the drug Regu-Mate, which is commonly used to regulate cycles and help maintain pregnancies in mares. It is also considered to have a calming effect on horses.
“Why a substance was found to be an anabolic steroid when it was later ruled not to be one is of concern, and we are already reviewing that.” McGauran told The Age. “I think there has been an air of panic on this issue,” he added. “We don't need to change a rule. We don't list what anabolic steroids are, that is up to the laboratories to tell us. The laboratories have to be more assured of their findings.”
However, Racing Queensland general manager of stewards and integrity operations Wade Birch, who on Thursday announced the authority's decision to clear the substance, indicated that he was in favor of establishing a list of prohibited substances.
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