BHA Chief Exec Paul Bittar
One year on from the doping scandal sparked by disgraced Godolphin trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni, the BHA has adopted what it describes as a “zero-tolerance stance” on the use of anabolic steroids in racing.
A 14-month ban from racing in Britain will be imposed on any horse found to have been given anabolic steroids as part of a policy under which horses must not be administered steroids at any point in their life.
A horse must be made available for testing at any time, the policy states, regardless of physical location and whose care it is under.
Last year the BHA dealt with two high-profile cases involving the use of anabolic steroids, with trainers Al Zarooni and Gerard Butler handed lengthy bans having been found guilty of administering performance-enhancing drugs.
In the wake of the cases, extensive scientific research and consultation across the global racing industry have been undertaken, with the BHA keen to move towards worldwide harmonisation on the use of anabolic steroids.
Under the new BHA guidelines, due to be implemented by January 1, 2015, a horse must not be administered an anabolic steroid at any point in its life, with no exceptions. This differs from the IFHA minimum standard, under which a substance could be used for therapeutic purposes only, albeit with stringent controls.
Any horse found to have been administered with anabolic steroids will be stood down from training for 12 months and unable to race for 14 months, compared to the previous ban of six months.
Any horse bred in Britain must be registered with Weatherbys within 12 months of birth, phased down to six months in two years.
With the Irish, German and French racing authorities operating mirror policies, horses imported from these countries which have spent 12 months under the equivalent policy will be treated as British runners and subject to the same treatment.
Permanently imported horses from elsewhere in the world must be registered with Weatherbys within three months of arrival, accompanied by a sample showing no evidence of anabolic steroid administration.
The BHA’s chief executive Paul Bittar said: “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.
“It is intended to ensure that the industry, racing and betting public can be reassured that all races which 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 harmonisation 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.”
(source: Racing Post)
