Transcript Drug testing: what’s coming in the next mellinium

RACING MEDICATION AND
TESTING CONSORTIUM
Dan Fick
The Jockey Club
Executive Director
& Executive Vice President
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Mission
Uniform Model Rules
Research
Anabolic Steroids
Drug Testing
Funding
Mission of RMTC
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To develop, promote and coordinate, at the national
level, policies, research and educational programs
that seek to:
– ensure fairness and integrity of racing
– ensure the health and welfare of racehorses and
participants
– protect the interests of the racing public
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RMTC was formed in 2002 as a 501 (c)(3) charitable
organization; donations are tax deductible.
Board of Directors
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AAEP
AQHA
Arabian Jockey Club
Breeders’ Cup
California TB Trainers
Churchill Downs
Del Mar
Hambletonian Society
Harness Tracks of America
Jockey Club
Jockeys’ Guild
Keeneland
Kentucky TB Association
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Magna Entertainment
National HBPA
NTRA
NYRA
Oak Tree
RCI
THA
TOBA
TB Owners of California
TRA
TRPB
USTA
RMTC Officers
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Executive Director: Dr. Scot Waterman
Chairman: Dr. Bobby Lewis - AAEP
Vice Chairman: Chris Scherf - TRA
Vice Chairman: Alan Foreman - THA
Secretary: Dr. Rick Arthur - CHRB
Treasurer: Tom Charters - Hambletonian
CEO: Dan Fick - The Jockey Club
RMTC Model of Operation
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Goals:
– Uniform regulation
– Level playing field
– Welfare and safety of participants
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Implementation Strategy:
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Review existing research
New research
Scientific Advisory Committee
Consensus of directors
Model Rules Phase 1 (2005)
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Veterinary Practices
Prohibited Practices
Drug Classifications/Categorization
Permitted Therapeutics:
– Race Day
 Voluntary use of Lasix
 Adjuncts permitted pending research
 Anti-ulcer medications
– One of three NSAID – Bute, Banamine &
Ketoprofen – 24 hours
Model Rules
Language adopted
Language in the process of being adopted
Process require significant legislative action
Process has not been started
No horse racing or harness racing commission
Uniform Penalties (2006)
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Three-tiered grid system simplified existing RCI
penalties
Significantly increases penalties for illegal and
prohibited performance-enhancing drugs
Reduces penalties for therapeutic medication
mistakes
Redefines trainer responsibility
– Mitigating and aggravating circumstances “checklist” for
stewards
– Added penalties for other culpable licensees:
veterinarians, owners and grooms
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Adopted as rule or policy in 25 states
Uniform Model
Penalties Policy
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Class A – Illegal, not approved, significant
performance enhancement
Lifetime:
– 1st Offense –
– 3rd Offense –
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Minimum
Maximum
1 year & $ 10,000
3 year & $ 25,000
Minimum
Maximum
5 year & $ 50,000
10 year & $100,000
Class C – Therapeutic medications at less than
performance enhancing levels
365 Days
– 1st Offense –
– 2nd Offense –
– 3rd Offense –
Minimum
Minimum
Minimum
$ 500
15 day & $ 1,000
30 day & $ 2,500
New RCI Model Rules
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Regulation of anabolic steroids
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Limited to four FDA-permitted anabolics
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Stanozolol (Winstrol)
Boldenone (Equipoise)
Nandrolone
Testosterone
30-45 days withdrawal time
Out-of-competition testing
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Blood-doping agents – EPO & Darbypoietin
Illegal & prohibited drugs
Research
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Research grants - $965,000 to date
– Performance enhancers
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Erythropoietin, Ethanol and Cone Snail Venom
– Therapeutics
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Procaine Penicillin, Flunixin, Clenbuterol and Amicar
– Environmental contaminants
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Morphine and Cocaine
– Research on 50 therapeutics and anabolic steroids
– Unknowns from backstretch contacts
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25-horse research training stable
Dr. Don Catlin – Anti-Doping Research Lab
RMTC Research Program
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RMTC is also focused on developing tests for
“designer” drugs
“Unknown” acquisition and analysis:
– RMTC works with sources and purchases products being
marketed as “performance enhancing”
– Over a dozen vials and syringes have been analyzed over the
past two years
– Majority contain “voodoo” products and are of little
concern
– In 2007, one unknown led to a federal investigation and
prosecution of a “race-day medication” website
Withdrawal Times Research
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Identified drugs with legitimate uses
Prioritized drugs into five groups
Collected previous science on each drug
If science is insufficient then perform administrations
on a minimum of 20 horses
Research costs of administration, collection and
analysis are $20,000 up to $40,000 depending on drug
Plasma is preferred but some drugs will have both
urine and plasma collected
Ultimate goal: uniform withdrawal time with a
corresponding threshold level of drug which regulates
the withdrawal time
Withdrawal Times Research
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Priority Group 1
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Acepromazine
Butorphanol
Detomidine
Glycopyrrolate
Lidocaine
Mepivacaine
Methocarbamol
Pyrilamine
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Priority Group 2
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Boldenone
Dantrolene
Dexamethasone
Fluphenazine
Hydroxyzine
Nandrolone
Stanozolol
Testosterone
Withdrawal Times Research
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Priority Group 3
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Albuterol
Betamethasone
Diclofenac
Methylprednisolone
Reserpine
Triamcinolone
Trichlormethiazide
Xylazine
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Priority Group 4
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Atropine
Beclomethasone
Buscopan
Cromolyn
Isoxsuprine
Pentoxyfylline
Phenytoin
Prednisolone
Withdrawal Times Research
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Priority Group 5
– Diazepam
– Dipyrone
– Fluorprednisolone
– Guaifenesin
– Isoflupredone
– Prednisone
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Research finished
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Aminocaproic Acid
Carbazochrome
Clenbuterol
Procaine Penicillin
Cimetidine
DMSO
Flunixin
Furosemide
Ketoprofen
Omeprazole
Phenylbutazone
Ranitidine
Withdrawal Time Database
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Withdrawal times posted for 18 jurisdictions
and over 70 drugs
Database is searchable by drug and by
jurisdiction
Over 2,000 unique users in first month of
availability
Help us add more (New Mexico)
www.rmtcnet.com, click on “Withdrawal
Times” tab at top of page
Scot
Waterman
Anabolic steroids
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Why now?
– Several surveys showed extremely high
levels of use
– Perception and level of public
consciousness of anabolic steroids
– Federal scrutiny of major league sports
– Legislation to ban steroids introduced in
Congress
– Harmonizes the U.S. internationally
Anabolic steroids
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Model rule approved by RCI in April 2007
Revised by RCI in December 2007 to cover the
intact male
Model rule contains urinary thresholds for 4
anabolic steroids that are permitted by FDA
Plasma thresholds will be added once
administration studies are completed this fall
Anabolic Steroids
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AR, AZ, CO, DE, IA, IL, IN, PA, VA, WA have
adopted this model rule
At least 12 other states have started the
adoption process
RMTC & RCI have encouraged every state to
be done with the adoption process by 12/31
Recommendations for implementation
approved by RMTC & RCI in March 2008
Anabolic Steroids
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RMTC Board recommends:
– 90-day grace period on penalty enforcement when
rule is introduced
– Notification to owner/trainer for overage,
– No fine or loss of purse absent aggravating
circumstances
– After 90 days, jurisdictions should follow the
penalty guidelines in the model rules $500 and loss
of purse for 1st violation
– Pre-entry testing must be made available in some
form
Anabolic Steroids
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RMTC Board recommends:
– Boldenone, stanozolol, nandrolone and
testosterone should not be administered within 30
days of a race
– If needed outside of 30 days, must be documented
by veterinarian, must include diagnosis and filed
with the regulatory body
– Horse should then test negative before being
allowed to enter.
– Claimed horses may be tested on request and at
the cost of the claimant. If positive, claim can be
voided and cost of testing borne by original owner.
Anabolic Steroids
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Significant interest at the federal level on this
issue
Reps from RMTC, RCI, NTRA met with
congressional staffers in Jan ‘08
Alex Waldrop recently testified in front of
House Energy and Commerce Sub-committee
Interstate Horseracing Act is in play, state
regulation of drug control also in jeopardy
Congressmen Whitfield & Rush drafting
legislation with possible hearing in mid-June.
Drug Testing Objectives
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Uniform Testing
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Standards for chain of custody, split and frozen samples
Standard operating procedures and testing protocols
Quality assurance and blind sampling
Laboratory accreditation
Future Considerations
– National industry-owned reference laboratory
– Potential for consolidation of 18 existing drug-testing
laboratories
Funding
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$2.7 million bridge financing from industry
organizations 2003-2006
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2007 Contributions = $683,126
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2008 Projected Funding:
– $1 per start from horsemen and racetracks
– $700,000 from industry organizations
– $500,000 research and testing grants from
The Jockey Club & Kentucky Horse Racing Authority
– Tax-deductible donations from individuals
RMTC: Contact Us
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www.rmtcnet.com