The Association of Racing Commissioners International has reclassified four anabolic steroids from Class 4 to Class 3 status and has designated alpha-cobratoxin and ziconotide as Class 1 drugs with no therapeutic uses in racehorses.

RCI said classifying the anabolic steroids boldenone, nandrolone, stanozolol, and testosterone as Class 3 substances, would clear the way for state jurisdictions to impose tougher penalties for positive tests, which could include trainer suspensions and purse redistributions.

 “This move is consistent with the fact that the racing commissions believed the existing classification of a positive for these steroids was not sufficiently serious based upon the unanimous opinion of the Drug Testing Standards and Practices Committee as well as the majority recommendation of the Veterinary Pharmacology Subcommittee,” RCI President Ed Martin said.

Alpha-cobratoxin is a neurotoxin isolated from the venom of certain cobras that can be used as a nerve block. In 2007, Kentucky stewards suspended veterinarian Rod Stewart for four years and trainer Patrick Biancone for one year related to the discovery of alpha-cobratoxin in Biancone’s barn.

Ziconotide derives from cone snail venom and is used as an N-type calcium channel blocker.