CHRB approves new steroid policy

[whodey17]

http://www.drf.com/news/article/90693.html

My question is this, and forgive my ignorance, but why would any anabolic steroid be allowed? Why not simply ban all anabolic steroids and if you get caught using them then you lose your trainers license for life?

[Pedigree Ann]

Originally Posted by whodey17

http://www.drf.com/news/article/90693.html

My question is this, and forgive my ignorance, but why would any anabolic steroid be allowed? Why not simply ban all anabolic steroids and if you get caught using them then you lose your trainers license for life?

Because steroids do have legitimate theraputic uses, same as they do in human beings. And like so many other legitimate theraputic medical substances, they are subject to abuse.

[parsixfarms]

First snake venom, and now this. What's a poor trainer to do?

[Bobby Fischer]

This is a baby step in the right direction.

Not Perfect
The problem with the new regulations is where they set the guidlines for what they call "natural occuring" steroids. - The hormones the animals naturally have , as well as the test being a Race-Day urine sample.

Ungelded Males Exempt?
With the CHRB's current proposal there is no limit to the amount of Testosterone levels in a ungelded male horse. Meaning that a barn can pump their horses with as much injections of Testosterone as they want.

Conflict of Interest - Geldings get the shaft
With ungelded males having no limit on their Testosterone injections, and the Geldings limited to 20 nanograms (35 less than even the fillies), are they at a big disadvantage in the Breeders cup?


Healthy for Fillies
Steroid rules are a much needed change for Fillies. Even with 55nanograms of testosterone allowed in fillies, this will be a neede reduction.

Just a raceday Urine test
How long do steroids appear in urine for a racehorse? It seems that trainers can still cycle any and all steroids on their horses and show a benefit in the time between races and layoffs.

The anabolic steroids that would be affected by the restrictions are Stanozolol (one nanogram per millimeter of urine), Nandrolone (one nanogram for fillies, mares and geldings and 45 nanograms for males), Boldenone (15 nanograms in males other than geldings) and Testosterone (55 nanograms in fillies and mares and 20 nanograms for geldings). The latter would be allowed at any level in non-gelded males.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by Bobby Fischer

This is a baby step in the right direction.

Not Perfect
The problem with the new regulations is where they set the guidlines for what they call "natural occuring" steroids. - The hormones the animals naturally have , as well as the test being a Race-Day urine sample.

Ungelded Males Exempt?
With the CHRB's current proposal there is no limit to the amount of Testosterone levels in a ungelded male horse. Meaning that a barn can pump their horses with as much injections of Testosterone as they want.

Conflict of Interest - Geldings get the shaft
With ungelded males having no limit on their Testosterone injections, and the Geldings limited to 20 nanograms (35 less than even the fillies), are they at a big disadvantage in the Breeders cup?


Healthy for Fillies
Steroid rules are a much needed change for Fillies. Even with 55nanograms of testosterone allowed in fillies, this will be a neede reduction.

Just a raceday Urine test
How long do steroids appear in urine for a racehorse? It seems that trainers can still cycle any and all steroids on their horses and show a benefit in the time between races and layoffs.

This a step in the wrong direction as it will lead to more illegal and currently undetectable substances being used to try to fill the gap left by the banning of anabolics. There is zero proof that anabolics are a performance enhancer in horses. But as stated above there are legitimate therapuetic uses for them and the withdrawl times are wildly inconsistent which may lead to lots of bs positives. As is typical in the medication wars, the powers that be make a pr move that will make things more dificult for the non cheaters. Regulation would have been a much better option but it would not make the splash that banning them makes.

[Bobby Fischer]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

There is zero proof that anabolics are a performance enhancer in horses.

I just don't understand how anabolics are not seen by all as performance enhancers? They give the horse more strength, faster recovery, and better appetite. A race horse that is extremely strong and muscled is almost always going to perform better. Horses aren't that much different than men in the way anabolics act.

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

But as stated above there are legitimate therapuetic uses for them and the withdrawl times are wildly inconsistent which may lead to lots of bs positives.

What legitimate therapuetic need could a horse that is about to race have?