June 11, 2008

The Arabian Jockey Club hereby publicly endorses the Thoroughbred Safety Committee Recommendations published June 9, 2008, regarding the use of anabolic steroids in race training and racing Thoroughbreds and calls for those same recommendations to be adopted in training and racing Arabians. These recommendations were largely based on the work done by the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium (RMTC).

As horsemen and stewards of the Arabian race horse we are committed to the best interests of the Arabian horse and the public's trust in racing Arabians.

THOROUGHBRED SAFETY COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

JUNE 9, 2008

Recommendation #3: - Anabolic Steroids

Based on review of existing research and recommendations from the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP), the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium (RMTC), the Association of Racing Commissioners International (RCI), the 2006 Welfare and Safety of the Racehorse Summit and recent discussions with experts in the use and effects of anabolic steroids in racehorses, the Thoroughbred Safety Committee calls for:

"The immediate adoption by all North American racing authorities of the RCI Model Rule on Androgenic Anabolic Steroids which was based on RMTC recommendations which effectively bans the use of all anabolic steroids in the race training and racing of Thoroughbreds."

Further, the Thoroughbred Safety Committee calls for:

- All racetracks to immediately implement this ban by "house rule."

- All North American racing authorities to implement the model rule no later than December 31, 2008.

In addition, the Thoroughbred Safety Committee encourages North American Racing Authorities to utilize the following RMTC guidelines for implementation of the RCI Model Rule on Androgenic Anabolic Steroids.

1. When a racing authority implements the RMTC and RCI Androgenic Anabolic Steroid Model Rule, there should be a 90-day grace period before the penalty enforcement begins; subsequent penalties should be in accord with the RMTC and RCI Uniform Model Penalties. The trainer and owner should be notified if there is an anabolic steroid overage during the 90-day grace period. 2. The androgenic anabolic steroids boldenone, nandrolone, stanozolol and testosterone shall not be administered within 30 days prior to a race.
	a. One of those four anabolic steroids may be administered more than 30 days prior to the race only if all of the following conditions are met:
		i. the androgenic anabolic steroid is administered by a licensed veterinarian in connection with the diagnosis of illness or injury in the horse for which the steroid is necessary; and, ii. the veterinarian must complete and personally sign a treatment report and files the report with the appropriate regulatory designee within 24 hours of the treatment; and, iii. the horse must test below the stated model rule threshold concentration prior to being allowed to enter to race.
	b. Only licensed veterinarians may possess the above androgenic anabolic steroids and administer them to racehorses. They shall not be dispensed for administration by personnel associated with the horse. c. Claimed horses may be tested for the presence of anabolic steroids at the request of the claimant and results shall be reported to the regulatory body. Upon a positive test, the claim may be voided at the option of the claimant, and testing costs shall be borne by the original owner. If the test is negative, the claimant shall reimburse the regulatory body for the costs of testing. d. Withdrawal times are variable and nothing in this policy should be interpreted as condoning the use of androgenic anabolic steroids in horses intended to race.

Finally, the Thoroughbred Safety Committee hereby supports the on-going efforts of all Thoroughbred sales companies, the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA) Sales Integrity Task Force and other concerned entities to eliminate the use of anabolic steroids in Thoroughbreds intended for sale as weanlings, yearlings and two-year-olds in training.

AJC SUPPORTS BAN ON ANABOLIC STEROID USE

Press Release from the Arabian Jockey Club:

THOROUGHBRED SAFETY COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS