The National Steeplechase Association (NSA) approved a rule banning the use
of all androgenic and anabolic steroids, with the exception of four therapeutic
medications, it was announced Friday.
Effective September 1, the new rule will be added to Chapter 10 of the NSA
“Rules of Racing.” The four allowable steroids, at trace levels, are stanozolol
(brand name Winstrol), boldenone (Equipoise), nandrolone (Durabolin) and
testosterone. Horses will be tested on race day for residues of those four
substances, which must not exceed stated guidelines.
The NSA follows the path of the Delaware Racing Commission, which adopted a
similar steroid policy in advance of the opening of Delaware Park’s 2008 season
on April 19.
The use of steroids in the racing industry has come under increased scrutiny
of late.
“It’s really unavoidable at this stage,” NSA’s Director of Racing Bill Gallo
said. “With all that is going on in the world of Thoroughbred racing, we just
felt the need to follow suit and be proactive. The rules are based on the
Mid-Atlantic guidelines and when they made the move we felt it was the right
thing to do and follow them. We actually use the same testing lab as Delaware
Park and we typically follow their lead, so this made a lot of sense.”
The NSA Stewards Advisory Committee recommended adoption of the steroid
policy, which will be finalized over the summer to include penalties for
positive tests.
“Duncan Patterson, a Delaware Racing Commissioner, and Frank Petramalo,
executive director of the Virginia Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective
Association, are both part of the committee and are plugged into the
Thoroughbred industry,” Gallo continued. “We’re working on the penalties (for
testing positive) now and we’ll go over them at Saratoga, the site of our next
NSA board meeting. Like the policy in general, they will be modeled after other
similar rules.”
Anabolic steroids generally take 30 to 45 days to cycle out of a horse’s
system, meaning trainers have plenty of time to abide by the new rules — which
set threshold levels to correspond with that withdrawal time.
“We have given everyone ample time,” Gallo said. “The rule goes into effect
on September 1, but really it doesn’t apply until we run at Shawan Downs on
September 27. There’s no mystery here and everyone has been forewarned, so there
should be no issues come Shawan Downs for everyone that is adhering to the
rules. If your horses are on steroids it’s easily fixed with the time and notice
we have given everyone. It’s also important to note that these rules only apply
to NSA meets. When we run at racetracks the NSA defers to those tracks and their
rules.”
For allowable steroid thresholds under the new rule, please visit the NSA’s
web site at www.nationalsteeplechase.com and click on to the “Official Notices”
link.