New York State Gaming Commission Finally Bans Winstrol in Horse Racing

The State of New York has finally approved a ban on the use of the synthetic anabolic steroid known as Winstrol Depot (stanozolol) in the sport of horse racing. The move to ban steroids from horse racing first gathered momentum in 2008 but has taken 8 years before New York regulators decided to take action. 

The New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC) finally approved a proposed rule that would suspend race horses from competition if any amount of stanozolol was detected in its system. The rule was approved on February 29, 2016 but will not go into effect until September 1, 2016. 

Due to the extended clearance time for stanozolol, the six-month “grace period” will give time for the stanozolol metabolites to be eliminated from the animals' systems. Stanozolol metabolites have been known to be detectable for several months after the last administration of the steroid hormone.

Up until 2008, the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium (RMTC) had permitted the “therapeutic” use of stanozolol (Winstrol), boldenone (Equipoise), nandrolone (Deca Durabolin) and testosterone as long as steroid administration is discontinued for a 60-day window prior to competition and test below a certain threshold level during in-competition testing. Of these four anabolic steroids, stanozolol was the only non-naturally occurring steroid regularly used by trainers and veterinarians. 

After 2008, most states quickly move to restrict the use of steroids particularly the non-naturally occurring Winstrol. New York was the last state to ban Winstrol. A NYSGC analysis, published in the New York State Register in December 2015, concluded there was no valid therapeutic equine use for Winstrol in healthy race horses.

"There is no valid reason to administer this substance to a healthy racehorse, and there are better alternatives that are permitted for horses that are sick or injured," according to the NYSGC.

The modern-day steroid controversy in horse racing started when trainer Rick Dutrow made national headlines when the three-year old colt named Big Brown convincingly won the 2008 Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes. Big Brown was widely expected that the colt would be the next Triple Crown winner. But after Dutrow admitted giving his horses Winstrol, he was pressured to discontinue Winstrol prior to the Preakness Stakes. Big Brown lost as a result.

At the time, Winstrol was perfectly legal in all three states that hosted the Triple Crown i.e. Kentucky Derby (Kentucky), Preakness Stakes (Maryland) and Belmont States (New York). 

Little has changed when it comes to the other 3 anabolic steroids permitted in horse racing. The reason is that nandrolone, boldenone and testosterone are endogenous and naturally-occurring substances in horses. The three steroids can be used in horses in order to assist in the recovery from illness or injury. The horses remain eligible to race as long as the concentration of the administered steroids are below a certain threshold.

Source:

Hegarty, M. (February 29, 2016). New York bans use of anabolic steroid stanozolol. Retrieved from http://www.drf.com/news/new-york-bans-use-anabolic-steroid-stanozolol