Clenbuterol restrictions in Maryland may be about to get tighter. According to a report from Thoroughbred Daily News, the Maryland Racing Commission has voted unanimously to propose a new rule that would take away any race-day threshold for the bronchodilator.
The current rules do not permit race day administration of the drug, but rather set a threshold under which its presence would not be a violation. Generally this is done to allow a drug to be given within a set period of days prior to race day.
Clenbuterol is an effective bronchodilator but can also have side effects similar to anabolic steroids, particularly if used in small doses over a period of time. Under the proposed regulation, veterinarians could still prescribe the drug to horses with a specific diagnosis, but would be required to report the horse's diagnosis and treatment plan. The horse receiving the medication would not be permitted to race until urine or blood tests came back with no clenbuterol in the horse's system. The drug could also be added to the commission's battery of out-of-competition tests.
The TDN notes however, that current restrictions in Maryland still do not permit the commission to perform out-of-competition tests on horses stabled away from commission-sanctioned grounds.
Read more at Thoroughbred Daily News
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