Kentucky bans anabolic steroids

The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission on Thursday unanimously approved banning the use of anabolic steroids in racehorses, with the rules likely to go into effect the first week of September with Gov. Steve Beshear’s signature as an emergency regulation.

Under the new regulations, the anabolic steroids boldenone, nandrolone and testosterone will be considered Class B substances, which carry tougher penalties. When Beshear signs the regulations, there will be a 90-day grace period, although a positive test during the last 30 days of the timeframe would be considered an “aggravating factor” in any subsequent medication violation.

Trainers shipping horses to Kentucky may follow reporting requirements or certify a horse has not been given steroids in the prior 60 days. If any trainer does not have prior knowledge to possible steroid use, he/she would still have to accept responsibility for any positive test.

If steroids have been administered within the previous 60 days, the horse will be ineligible to race in Kentucky until at least 60 days after the day the steroids are administered and after the KHRC receives a negative report from an approved laboratory.

In addition, persons claiming a horse can request steroid tests and have the ability to void any claim in that test comes back positive.

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