by Jeff Lowe

The California Horse Racing Board approved a rule amendment on Thursday that would begin regulation of the commonly-used anabolic steroids stanazolol, nandrolone, boldenone, and testosterone.

The amendment is based on model rules established earlier this year by the Racing Medication Testing Consortium and Association of Racing Commissioners International.

“We have already re-categorized all anabolic steroids except for these four into Class 3 or higher, which will require purse redistribution,” said Rick Arthur, D.V.M., the board’s equine medical director. “What this does is recognize that there are four anabolic steroids that in residue levels may be permissible under certain circumstances. … This is essentially going to eliminate them except for very unique situations.”

With thresholds in place, the estimated withdrawal times would be no closer than 30 days before a race. The rule would not regulate testosterone levels in intact males.

“The goal is to have this in place well in advance of the Breeders’ Cup at Oak Tree in October in 2008, with the goal of the Breeders’ Cup being anabolic steroid-free, which would be the first time in American racing that that event has been held under those conditions,” Arthur said. “The second step will be proposed in the not too distant future that will re-categorize these drugs as Class 3 drugs. Ultimately, our goal is to regulate these drugs in blood.”

On Thursday, five Mid-Atlantic states also took stands against the use of anabolic steroids. For more on that story, click here.

Jeff Lowe is a Thoroughbred Times staff writer