The Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit (HIWU) has overseen a successful relaunch of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority's (HISA) Anti-Doping and Medication Control (ADMC) Program, which took effect on May 22, 2023, following a court-ordered pause on March 31. The Program originally launched on March 27.
Through the first two weeks, more than 3,000 Covered Horses have been tested at 22 tracks across the country. The test types include Post-Race, Out-of-Competition, Vets' List, and TCO2, as well as testing on claimed Covered Horses and Covered Horses that suffered injuries or fatalities. All samples have been collected by HIWU-trained personnel following uniform processes that are supported by a paperless documentation system. The samples have been sent to one of the six laboratories that have been approved by HIWU to participate in the ADMC Program. All of these laboratories must meet the same performance specifications.
As per HISA's ADMC Program regulations, HIWU is required to adhere to timely public disclosure policies in the event of an Adverse Analytical finding, i.e., positive test. For positive tests associated with Banned Substances, the violation will be published on the HIWU website upon the imposition of a Provisional Suspension to the trainer, which occurs once the trainer is notified of the positive test. For positive tests associated with Controlled Medications, the violation will be published after the B sample, i.e., split sample, confirms the positive result or the trainer waives the right to test the B sample.
More information about HIWU's public disclosure policies can be found on the HIWU website.
HIWU's anonymous whistleblower platforms are also live and have been accepting tips that may be used in the investigation of potential violations of HISA's Racetrack Safety and/or ADMC Programs. More information about the tip lines, including the telephone number, text number, and email address, can be found here.
“With HISA's national, uniform ADMC Program finally in place, the last two weeks represent a momentous step forward for Thoroughbred racing in the United States,” said Ben Mosier, executive director of HIWU. “We thank the industry stakeholders who have collaborated with us and been supportive over the last year to help the Program get off the ground successfully.”
To support the administration of the ADMC Program at Belmont Park in advance of the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, which will be held Thursday, June 8, through Saturday, June 10, HIWU team members are on site to ensure smooth operations. Saturday's Belmont Stakes will be the first Triple Crown race to be run under the regulations of the HISA ADMC Program, which includes selected Out-of-Competition testing for prospective entrants in advance of the race in addition to Post-Race and TCO2 testing.
“HIWU will build off its early momentum to showcase our world-class program to a national audience this weekend and demonstrate how the Program enhances equine safety and welfare across the country while promoting the integrity of the sport,” said Mosier.
The Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit (HIWU) was established in 2022 by Drug Free Sport International to administer the rules and enforcement mechanisms of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority's (HISA) Anti-Doping and Medication Control (ADMC) Program. The ADMC Program establishes a centralized testing and results management process that applies uniform penalties for violations efficiently and consistently across all American Thoroughbred racing jurisdictions that HISA governs. HIWU oversees testing, educating stakeholders on the program, laboratory accreditation, investigation of potential violations, and prosecution of any such violations. For more information, please visit hiwu.org.
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