Racing in Britain will next year see increased anti-doping measures after the
British Horseracing Authority announced a tightening of its Anti-Doping and
Medication Control Policy. After a review of its policy, the BHA has amended it
to double testing-in-training samples, increase post-race testing samples by 20
percent, negotiate lower sampling costs and increase investment in research,
including hair sample analysis.
“The two high-profile investigations this year have brought BHA’s Anti-Doping
and Medication Control Policy into the spotlight, and highlighted the need for
an appropriately robust strategy towards doping control,” BHA Chief Executive
Paul Bittar said, alluding to the cases of former Godolphin trainer Mahmood al
Zarooni as well as Gerard Butler.
“The objective is that via enhancements to our testing program and strategy,
as well as the significant penalties handed to those who have breached the rules
this year, we increase the deterrent against the use of prohibited substances.”
The amended policy will take effect January 1, and will be reviewed quarterly
to assess its effectiveness.
“In an ideal world there would be no limit to the amount of testing we
conduct, but we are constrained with regard to both budget and resources,”
Bittar added. “However, we have secured an increase in the budget available for
2014, and an effective strategy is not simply measured by the number of samples
taken, but also the methods adopted to ensure that the right samples are being
taken at the right time.
“While both of the high-profile investigations in 2013 arose from positive
samples detected in the equivalent of out-of-competition testing rather than
post race, we do consider testing-in-training to be the area where a significant
increase is warranted. Modern day anti-doping strategies across all sports are
increasingly focusing on out-of-competition testing as trends move towards
substances that are administered well in advance of the performance to allow
athletes to compete substance free on the day. As such, BHA’s anti-doping
strategy for 2014 has an increased emphasis on testing-in-training.
“It has been a challenging year,” Bittar added, “but we hope that the
enhancements made to our testing policies, the tightening of certain rules and
the advancements led by BHA in establishing an international minimum standard on
anabolic steroid use, has, as a result, made the sport a better environment both
in Britain and worldwide.”
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