海角大神

• Clarification and consensus sought with key stakeholders on certain elements
• Support for the policy’s objectives and zero tolerance approach remains unequivocal

海角大神 (BHA) has today announced that full implementation of the sport’s聽enhanced, zero-tolerance policy regarding the use of anabolic steroids聽has been put back, with implementation intended for March聽2015.

The reason for the deferral is to allow more time to work with stakeholders, trainers and owners in particular, to clarify certain elements of the聽new Rules and聽to secure consensus from all affected parties. These elements include聽the definition of a 鈥渞esponsible person鈥�, i.e. the individual with the responsibility for ensuring that a horse is not administered with an anabolic steroid at any given time.

These outstanding issues are being resolved in consultation with the Racehorse Owners Association (ROA), National Trainers Federation (NTF) and Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association (TBA) who today reiterated their support for the zero-tolerance policy and recognised the need to delay the implementation.

The聽policy, first announced in June 2014,聽has the objective of ensuring that British Racing remains at the forefront of聽tackling聽an issue that ranks amongst the biggest threats faced by any global sport.

The policy includes: that a horse must never be administered with an anabolic steroid at any time, from birth to retirement; greater powers for BHA in terms of access for testing registered horses; the requirement for horses to be registered from a younger age and for BHA to be aware of their whereabouts at all times; a more stringent 14 month 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.

Rupert Arnold, NTF Chief Executive, said:

鈥淭he National Trainers Federation fully supports the BHA鈥檚 general policy on anabolic steroids and we are keen for its implementation to run smoothly. Unfortunately some practical issues remain unresolved so we welcome the BHA鈥檚 decision to delay the introduction until these are ironed out. We are committed to working with all the parties involved to ensure the rules and procedures achieve the agreed objectives.鈥�

Richard聽Wayman, ROA Chief Executive, said:

鈥淭he Racehorse Owners Association unequivocally supports a zero tolerance approach to anabolic steroids but we recognise application of the new policy is not without its challenges including, for example, establishing who is responsible for a horse when it is not stabled with its trainer or owner. Delaying implementation for a short period of time to allow such issues to be fully worked through is eminently sensible as the priority must be to ensure the new Rules operate as intended and also that they are fully communicated to those directly involved before they become effective.鈥�

Jamie Stier, Director of Raceday Operations and Regulation for BHA, said:

鈥淭his is a complex issue and while we are disappointed not to be in a position to launch on 1 January, I have no doubt that we are doing the right thing in not trying to rush its introduction.

鈥淓xtending our regulatory powers beyond that of horses in the care or control of licensed personnel is critical to the success of the policy. It is also critical that there is no scope for any subsequent misunderstandings about who is responsible for a horse at any point before or during its racing career. We appreciate the patience and cooperation of the parties concerned on this matter and we will work with them to find consensus prior to implementation”.

It remains the case that horses in the care or control of a trainer are not permitted to be given anabolic steroids, or any other substances which are prohibited at all times. Breeders and vets are also advised that they must ensure no one administers such substances to horses intended for British Racing ahead of the implementation of the new Rules.

It is BHA鈥檚 intention that horses born on or after 1 January and intended for British Racing will not be registered without it being declared that they have never been administered with such a substance at any point in their life.

Notes to Editors

1. Full details of the Policy can be found here:聽/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Anabolic-Steroids-Policy-December-2014.pdf.
2. Details of the initial announcement of the Policy in June can be found here:聽/press_releases/bha-announces-zero-tolerance-policy-towards-anabolic-steroids/
3. The Policy applies 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.

4. 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.