by Frank Angst

A Kentucky subcommittee will recommend that the Kentucky Equine Drug Council ban anabolic androgenic steroids in racehorses.

Formed in May by the drug council, which is assigned the task of shaping drug policy for the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, the subcommittee released a position statement at its Wednesday meeting at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington. The statement reads, “The use of anabolic androgenic steroids shall be banned in horses competing in pari-mutuel racing sporting events in the commonwealth of Kentucky.”

New drug council chairman Jerry Yon anticipates working with the position statement and the Association of Racing Commissioners International model rules on steroids to shape a recommendation at its August 11 meeting. The RCI’s model rule on steroids was based on work by the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium.

The subcommittee unanimously approved forwarding the statement on to the council. Subcommittee Chairman Jim Smith, D.V.M, called the statement a strong step that is in line with the RCI model rule on anabolic steroids.

“It really is to try to go along with the national standards,” Smith said. “I think uniformity is very important. We have to show all the public, not just the betting public, that horse racing is anxious to put this anabolic steroid problem behind us. This is a good effective step.”

Kentucky Equine Medical Director Mary Scollay said the statement is in line with the model rule and noted the drug council will form its own recommendation.

The model rule prohibits the use of steroids in racehorses. Four steroids are allowed as a therapeutic treatment for horses out of training. Yon is hopeful the drug council will be able to form a recommendation at its next meeting to present to the commission.

“Right now this is the most pressing [issue],” Yon said. “This one we’ve got to tackle first. This has to be gone.

“We’re going to work with all of the different people who have something to bring to the table to develop a consensus. Yes, I’d like to see a recommendation. … We’re on a fast track, but we want it on right. If we hit a glitch where we’re lacking science or consensus, we may have to push the schedule back a month but it will still be our top priority.”

Frank Angst is senior writer for Thoroughbred Times