Steroid regulation approved in Indiana

The Indiana Horse Racing Commission unanimously approved regulations Thursday, Sept. 27 aimed at regulating the use of steroids in the state’s racing industry. The rules will go into effect Jan. 1, 2008, with an implementation date of April 1. Despite the move to curb abuse, some industry groups were not in favor of the regulations, which are based on those developed by the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium.

“I agree with proposed regulation with regard to anabolic steroids, but I think in the heat and light of this issue, we have gotten ahead of the science,” Stephen Barker, a professor of veterinary medicine at Louisiana State University, told commissioners. “It is completely inappropriate to compare the use of anabolic steroids in humans and horses.”

The RMTC regulations establish concentration limits on specific anabolic steroids. According to documentation provided by the IHRC, urinary concentrations of the following four anabolic steroids may not exceed the levels given: hydroxystanozolol (1 nanogram per milliliter), boldenone (15 ng/ml), nandrolone (1 ng/ml) and testosterone (20 ng/ml geldings, 55 ng/ml fillies and mares). In addition, the presence of no more than one of the aforementioned anabolic steroids is permitted.

Scot Waterman, executive director of the RMTC, was on hand and spoke in favor of the regulations.

“The frequent, regimented, shotgun administration of anabolic steroids is not used to treat an illness, but to support performance enhancement,” he said. “We need to protect our integrity and the dollars of the racing public that support us.”

Although the new regulations will begin Jan. 1, IHRC executive director Joe Gorajec recommended adopting the April 1 implementation date, as neither Hoosier Park nor Indiana Downs offer live racing prior to that. Gorajec also recommended a 45-day grace period. During that time, any positives would not result in penalty, but they would be communicated to the trainer.

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