LEXINGTON, KY - The membership of the
Association of Racing Commissioners International (RCI) this week approved
several modifications to the group’s Model Rules.
The RCI members approved a
recommendation by the Drug Testing Standards and Practices and Model Rules
Committees to remove the words “Restricted Administrative Time” and replace
them with “Recommended Withdrawal Time” on the RCI Controlled Therapeutic Medication
Schedule. This change was considered after a request from the United States
Trotting Association, American Association of Equine Practitioners, and the
Racing Medication and Testing Consortium (RMTC).
RCI also voted to make the following
modifications to the Controlled Therapeutic Medication Schedule:
·
Reduce the current regulatory threshold for
Ketoprofen from 10 ng/mL of plasma or serum to 2ng/mL. This would translate
into a primary (24-hour) and secondary (48-hour) threshold for Ketoprofen in
plasma or serum. Ketoprofen is a non‐steroidal anti-inflammatory and analgesic
medication which is approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration
for use in horses as Ketofen.
·
Modify the recommended withdrawal time for
Flunixen from 24 hours to 32 hours. This change is based on analysis of a
recent research project conducted by the RMTC.
RCI also voted to make the following
additions to the Controlled Therapeutic Substance Schedule:
·
Isoflupredone Isoflupredone acetate is a
corticosteroid that can be used for the treatment of allergic, musculoskeletal,
and inflammatory processes in the horse. It can be administered via
intra-articular, intravenous, and intra-muscular/subcutaneous routes. RCI
approved a threshold of 100 pg/mL in plasma based upon the subcutaneous (10 mg)
and intra-articular (20 mg) doses. The recommended withdrawal time is 7 days,
based upon the research analysis performed by the RMTC.
·
Albuterol Albuterol is indicated for the
relief of bronchospasm and bronchoconstriction in horses with reversible airway
obstruction and is effective for up to 7 hour as a bronchodilator. Albuterol is
administered either as an intra-nasal aerosol (either via intra-nasal apparatus
or mask, depending upon which delivery method is available) or orally. The oral
preparations are subject to very high first-pass metabolism and poor systemic
bioavailability. Oral products have not been extensively studied and should be
used with caution. The RMTC has indicated that Albuterol administered by
inhalation at a total dose of 360 mcg resulted in a 70% increase in pulmonary
function within 5 minutes of administration. While a 360 mcg dose is sufficient
to cause this change, the researchers determined that, if using a mask system
(such as an Aero Mask™), a 720 mcg dose should be used as much of the
medication does not reach the target tissue. Based upon the RMTC’s Scientific
Advisory Committee’s review of existing research and pharmacokinetic data
available from studies in Europe and the United States, the RCI adopted the
RMTC recommended interim threshold of 1 ng/mL of urine with a 72-hour
withdrawal guideline.
The RCI also adopted a number of
revisions to its Model Rules affecting Standardbred Racing that had previously
been approved for Thoroughbred racing. Adoption of these rules were delayed to
give Standardbred Horsemen’s organizations the opportunity to comment, though
no comments were received.
Specifically, RCI approved additional
restrictions on shock wave therapy to Standardbred races, requiring that
machines in use be registered and approved by the racing commission and all
treatments must be reported within 24-hours prior to treatment. The location of
any such machine would also need to be disclosed. Previously RCI adopted rules
that prohibit treatments within ten days of racing, affecting all breeds.
A modification previously made
affecting certain thresholds for the androgenic-anabolic steroids in flat
racing were formally adopted for Standardbred racing as was a technical change
to eliminate redundant language pertaining to anti-ulcer medications.
RCI also adopted an amendment to
provide greater clarification that a Thoroughbred horse is to be considered
ineligible to race if wholly or partially owned by a person or spouse of a
person who for any reason has been deemed ineligible to be licensed or
participate in that jurisdiction. The Model Rule presumes that the disqualified
person and spouse constitute a single financial entity with respect to the
ownership of the horse.
RCI Model Rules represent best
practice regulatory policy developed by the collective deliberations of racing
regulators in consultation with industry representatives. RCI Model Rules are recommendations
and the association has no direct regulatory power. In some cases, commissions,
states and the Canadian federal government have adopted “by reference” portions
of the RCI Model Rules, giving the rules the force of law in those
jurisdictions.
