Five Mid-Atlantic states have followed Pennsylvania’s lead in trying to curb the use of and increase testing for steroids in all Thoroughbred horses that race in their jurisdictions.

Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Virginia, and West Virginia announced on Friday that each would begin the process to ban the use of anabolic and androgenic steroids beginning on April 1.

“I feel very strongly that this is the right move,” said John Franzone, chairman of the Maryland Racing Commission. “There is no place for steroids in racing.”

The Pennsylvania Racing Commission announced on Wednesday that it will begin prohibiting the use of and increase testing for anabolic and androgenic steroids in all Thoroughbred horses racing in Pennsylvania beginning on April 1.  

The Pennsylvania announcement said that an acceptable plasma concentration of natural occurring testosterone and nandrolone has been established for the intact male horse.

The Pennsylvania Racing Commission advised all trainers and veterinarians who administer anabolic and/or androgenic steroids to discontinue use by December 1 to allow for the agents to pass through the horse’s system prior to April 1.

On Thursday, the California Horse Racing Board also weighed in on anabolic steroid use. Click here for more on that story.