OBS enacts new drug policy

[Kelly Kip]

The Ocala Breeders' Sales Company (OBS) will implement a policy regarding exogenous anabolic steroids beginning with the OBS February Sale of Selected Two-Year-Olds in Training. The policy states that no exogenous anabolic steroid can be administered within 45 days of a sale.

Buyers will be able to request a test for anabolic steroids. A positive test confirming the presence of exogenous anabolic steroids will allow the purchaser to rescind the sale.

"The use of anabolic steroids throughout all sports is certainly a hot topic and deserving of close scrutiny," OBS General Manager Tom Ventura said. "With the advancement in testing technology, OBS considers the timing appropriate to incorporate restrictions regarding the use of anabolic steroids."

In addition, OBS has refined the prohibited practices and medication policy as follows:

Prohibited Practices

Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy or Radial Pulse Wave Therapy is not allowed on the sales grounds.

Acupuncture and/or Electro-Stimulation with the intent of altering laryngeal function is not allowed on the sales grounds.

Internal Blister or other injections behind the knee to conceal the true conformation of the horse are not allowed.

Electrical devices to stimulate the performance of the horse on the track are not allowed.

Medication

All substances classified as either Class 1 or 2 by the ARCI (Association of Racing Commissioners International) may not be administered to a sale horse for any reason while on the sales grounds.

All bronchodilators, including but not limited to Clenbuterol and Albuterol, may not be administered to a sale horse within 72 hours of an under tack show or sale session.

Furosemide (Salix or Lasix) may not be administered to a sale horse while on the sales grounds.

Procaine penicillin may not be administered to a sale horse while on the sales grounds.

OBS will continue to perform random testing of sale horses during the under tack shows of all two-year-old sales. The first two-year-old sale is scheduled for February 12, with under tack shows on the recently installed all-weather Safetrack surface set for February 3rd and 10th. The OBS Championship Stakes are scheduled for February 11