On Wednesday, the New Jersey Racing Commission (NJRC) approved a proposal to implement new regulations on the use of androgenic-anabolic steroids in standardbred
race horses.
The new rule, N.J.A.C. 13:71-23.16, prohibits the administration of anabolic steroids to standardbreds except for the four permitted anabolic steroids (boldenone, nandrolone, stanozolol and testosterone) providing that the threshold levels are not met or exceeded. The new rule also establishes a testing program for anabolic steroids in standardbred racing.
For a first violation, the trainer's license shall be suspended for a 45-day period, the trainer shall be ordered to pay a $1,000 fine and be denied the privileges of all grounds subject to the jurisdiction of the Commission during the suspension period. For a second violation of this rule, the trainer's license shall be suspended for a 90-day period, he or she shall be ordered to pay a $2,500 fine and be denied the privileges of all grounds subject to the jurisdiction of the Commission during the suspension period. For a third violation of this rule, the trainer's license shall be permanently revoked and he or she shall be permanently denied the privileges of all grounds subject to the jurisdiction of the Commission.
In all cases that the race horse who tested in violation to this rule shall be disqualified and any purse money won shall be returned and redistributed in accordance with N.J.A.C. 13:71-23.7(b). The horse shall be declared ineligible to compete in any race in New Jersey for a period of at least 30 days after the date upon which the samples were taken. After the 30-day disqualification has been completed, no horse shall be allowed to enter a race or race until such time as the owner or trainer makes the horse available to the Commission for retesting and the samples taken are in compliance with this rule. The trainer or owner who submits the horse for retesting shall bear all costs, as determined by the Executive Director, that are related to the collection and testing of the samples taken.
For full details on the new regulations, click here.
(With files from NJRC)