Canadian steroid tests start June 1

The Canadian Pari-Mutuel Agency will begin testing for regulated anabolic steroids in horses beginning June 1, the agency recently announced.

According to the agency's manager of veterinary services, Dr. Mike Weber, the testing program is being launched in June to give trainers and veterinarians time to adjust to rules that only allow for the therapeutic use of four anabolic steroids: boldenone, nandrolone, stanozolol, and testosterone. Like almost all U.S. racing states, the Canadian regulatory agency recently adopted rules banning all but those four anabolic steroids, which are permitted to be used only at least 30 days before a race.

The agency is already testing for prohibited anabolic steroids, Weber said.

Most racing jurisdictions have established grace periods prior to issuing penalties for the permitted anabolic steroids because the drugs can be detected in a horse's urine or blood for several months after administration.