BHA Unveils New Steroids Policy

BHA UNVEILS NEW STEROIDS POLICY 
The British Horseracing Authority yesterday unveiled its enhanced, zero-tolerance anabolic steroids policy. The headline elements of the policy state that a horse must not be administered anabolic steroids at any point in its life, and all horses will be subject to testing at any time, regardless of physical location, once registered with Weatherbys. All British-bred horses must be registered with Weatherbys within 12 months of birth, which will be phased to six months in two years. Any horse testing positive for anabolic steroids will be banned from training for 12 months, and from competition for 14 months in Britain. Permanently imported horses must be registered with Weatherbys within six months of arrival, accompanied by a sample that shows no evidence of anabolic steroid administration. Horses imported from Ireland, France and Germany that have spent 12 months under their equivalent policies will be exempt from this requirement, and runners from those countries will be treated as British runners and be sampled as per the standard testing policy. All other foreign runners must be in Britain a minimum of 14 days in advance of their intended race to facilitate post-arrival sampling and analysis. 
The BHA’s new policy, which is intended to be implemented Jan. 1, 2015, is the result of a project started in 2013 that included extensive scientific research and consultation across the racing industry and externally, including sales companies, veterinary organizations, scientific experts and animal welfare charities. Scientific literature relating to therapeutic use of anabolic steroids, possible performance-enhancing effects and methods of detection were also reviewed. The project aimed to establish how British racing would not only adhere to, but exceed where possible, international minimum standards on steroid use set out by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities. The IFHA’s minimum standards state that anabolic steroids have no place in horse racing and should not be permitted in and out of competition. The BHA’s project was led by Sandy Love, Professor of Equine Clinical Studies at Glasgow University. 
BHA Chief Executive Paul Bittar said: “The need for an international position that sets robust minimum standards on use of anabolic steroids in horse racing was one that was pushed by BHA and a number of other key racing jurisdictions last year and resulted in the IFHA’s adopted position. The enhanced, zero-tolerance policy announced today, which exceeds the international minimum standard, has the objective of ensuring that British racing remains at the forefront of tackling an issue that ranks amongst the biggest threats faced by any world sport.” 
Bittar added: “It is intended to ensure that the industry, racing and betting public can be reassured that all races that take place on British soil are done so on a level playing field. It is also hoped that this will be another step towards global harmonization across the sport, and that the leadership role BHA has adopted on this issue can result in those nations that have not yet adopted the minimum standards following suit. Our previous policy already met the minimum standards, and today’s announcement goes further, ensuring British racing retains its pre-eminent position in respect of how drug use is regulated within the sport. After a challenging 16 months, as a result of the actions taken already by several nations, the sport globally is now in a much better place when it comes to the regulation of anabolic steroids.”