BHA's revised anabolic steroid policy on course for March implementation
05/02/2015�@11:00:00
- Clarification and consensus found with key stakeholders on outstanding elements
The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has today announced that the sport's�enhanced, zero-tolerance policy regarding the use of anabolic steroids�is on course for implementation from Monday 2 March.
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Confirmation of a March start date follows clarification and consensus being reached with�the Racehorse Owners Association (ROA), National Trainers Federation (NTF) and Thoroughbred Breeders' Association (TBA) on certain elements relating to the revised policy. These issues included�the�definition of �responsible person�, i.e.�the individual with the responsibility for ensuring that a horse is not administered with an anabolic steroid, and led to a short delay in the policy's introduction from January to March.�
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Jamie Stier, Director of Raceday Operations and Regulation for the BHA, said:
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�The implementation of an entirely new and far reaching set of�anti-doping�Rules�has been a�complex process.�We thank the ROA, NTF and TBA for their input throughout this process and their support for the principles behind the enhanced policy and the decision to delay the implementation.
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�We are naturally pleased to have reached consensus with all parties regarding the outstanding issues�and, while it was disappointing not to implement the policy on 1 January, it was certainly the right decision not to rush the introduction of the Rules until consensus was reached.�
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The�policy, first announced in June 2014,�has the objective of ensuring that British Racing remains at the forefront of�tackling�an issue that ranks amongst the biggest threats faced by all international sports.�Key pillars in the�policy�include: that a racehorse must never be administered with an anabolic steroid at any time from birth to retirement; greater powers for the BHA in terms of access for testing registered horses; the requirement for horses to be registered from a younger age and for the BHA to be aware of their whereabouts at all times; a more stringent 14 months stand-down period for horses found to have been administered with anabolic steroids; and greater controls on horses running in Great Britain from international jurisdictions.
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More details regarding the implementation of the new Rules will be published in due course � ahead of the implementation date � and will include guidance to affected parties regarding how to ensure adherence to the new Rules.
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Notes to Editors
- Full details of the Policy can be found here:http://www.britishhorseracing.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Anabolic-Steroids-Policy-December-2014.pdf
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- Details of the initial announcement of the Policy in June can be found here:http://www.britishhorseracing.com/press_releases/bha-announces-zero-tolerance-policy-towards-anabolic-steroids/
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- The release which announced the decision to delay the implementation can be found here:http://www.britishhorseracing.com/press_releases/implementation-new-anabolic-steroids-policy-delayed-march/
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- The Rules apply not only to anabolic steroids but all substances and methods which fall into these categories:
- Anabolic agents;
- Non-approved substances;
- Peptide hormones, growth factors and related substances;
- Hormone and metabolic modulators;
- Manipulation of blood and blood components;
- Blood transfusions;
- Genetic and cellular manipulation;
- Oxygen carriers.
- The IFHA minimum standard states that:
- IFHA considers that anabolic steroids have no place in horseracing
- The use of anabolic steroids should not be permitted in or out of competition
- IFHA will work with jurisdictions that may permit exceptional use for therapeutic purposes only, subject to stringent controls and a minimum stand down period to eliminate performance enhancing effects.
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