Lexington, KY --- The Drug Testing Standards and Practices (DTSP) Committee of
the Association of Racing Commissions International (ARCI) after a meeting on
Monday (Aug. 5) endorsed instituting a 48-hour restriction on administration of
nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
(NSAIDS), which include Phenylbutazone, and a 14-day restriction on the
administration of corticosteroids, pending scientific review.
The restriction on
corticosteroids would not apply to harness racing, as the sport is currently
amidst proceedings to determine breed-specific rules due to different race
schedules for Thoroughbreds, Standardbreds and Quarter Horses.
The corticosteroids were
previously included in the Model Rules but were removed per the instructions of
the Racing Medication & Testing Consortium (RMTC). In a recent
meeting of the RMTC the organization recommended the 48-hour restriction on
NSAIDs as the science is available to prove administration after that window
can compromise a pre-race examination.
“There have been situations,
specifically in New York, where these restrictions have been implemented and
been quite successful,” said Ed Martin, ARCI president and past executive
director of the New York Gaming and Wagering Board.
