RCI Officially Adopts Cobalt Policy

The Association of Racing Commissioners International Board of Directors, which voted last week to make it illegal to administer cobalt to a racehorse, is now formally notifying regulators and their testing labs of its new policy, according to a release from the organization. 

Based on the unanimous recommendations of the RCI Scientific Advisory Group, which met Apr. 21, the RCI Board voted to sanction trainers of horses that were found to have a cobalt level of 50 parts per billion (ppb) or greater of blood plasma or serum with a “B” penalty, which calls for a minimum 15-day suspension, a minimum $500 fine, and four points on the trainers Multiple Medication Violation record. Owners of horses that raced would also face a loss of any purse money earned and the horse would be excluded from competition until a retest at the owner’s expense proves levels have dropped to below 25 ppb in plasma/serum. 

During its Apr. 23 meeting, the board also voted to adopt a policy prohibiting horses from competition that were found to have a cobalt level of greater than or equal to 25 ppb, but below 50 ppb of blood plasma or serum. Those horses would be placed on the Veterinarian’s List and not be allowed to return to competition until a subsequent test proves that high cobalt levels have dropped below 25 ppb. 

The board tabled a proposal to impose a 10-year suspension on trainers of horses found to have over 300 parts per billion of cobalt in blood plasma or serum.