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collected during an administration trial involving a short-acting dexameth- asone preparation (dexamethasone sodium phosphate) given intrave- nously and conducted as part of the Equine Therapeutics Research Australia (ETRA) project and published by the Rural Industries Research Development Corporation (RIRDC). The published ETRA data sheet for dexamethasone reports a detection time of three days for the dosage regimen and pharmaceutical preparation used in the ETRA trial, and is valid for the new ISL to be applied by the Australian racing laboratories. It should be noted that this three day detection time for dexamethasone sodium phosphate is longer than the detection time of 48 hours previ- ously reported in the Australian Equine Veterinary Association (now Equine Veterinarians Australia – EVA) publication ‘Detection of Therapeutic Substances in Racing Horses’ (‘The White Book’), using the analytical methodology at that time. Therefore veterinarians are advised that recommended withdrawal peri- ods for treatment with dexamethasone sodium phosphate (for example, in products including Colvasone, Dexadreson, Dexapent, Dexason, Dexol-5, Dexone-5) must be based on the new ETRA data sheet detec- tion time of three (3) days and not on the previous advice provided in the EVA publication, and that trainers are warned accordingly. It is important to note that a withdrawal (or withholding) period is not the same as a detection period. Any withdrawal period should be calculated based on the published detection time, with the addition of a suitable safety margin based on the circumstances of the administration, includ- ing dose, route of administration, preparation administered. There have been no studies conducted on the detection of long-acting forms of injectable dexamethasone in relation to the ISL, and due to their long and unpredictable excretion, their use in racehorses should be avoided. ANABOLIC STEROIDS The Australian Racing Board (ARB) has introduced Rules completely banning the use of anabolic steroids in thoroughbred racehorses, effec- tive from 1 May 2014. The relevant rules pertaining to the ban on anabolic steroids can be found following this advice. The rules ban the use of "anabolic androgenic ster- oids" in Thoroughbred horses at any time from birth until retirement. There are no therapeutic exemptions of any kind. The ban applies to all unregistered and registered racehorses until their retirement as a race- horse. Horses of any age can be tested at any time and this includes when spelling and in training and racing. Further, any person who either admin- isters or attempts to administer an anabolic androgenic steroid to a thor- oughbred horse at any time commits an offence under these rules. There are many implications arising from the implementation of these rules, and to assist trainers and veterinarians in their compliance, the following explanatory note is provided. Which steroids are banned under these rules? The rules ban the use of "anabolic androgenic steroids" in Thoroughbred horses at any time from birth until retirement. "Anabolic androgenic steroids" include those that are currently registered in Australia by the APVMA for use in horses, such as boldenone, ethyl- estrenol (in Nitrotain), methandriol, nandrolone, stanozolol and testoster- one. Exogenous anabolic androgenic steroids that are banned also include but are not limited to those listed in the WADA prohibited list, such as 1-androstenediol; 1-androstenedione; bolandiol; bolasterone; boldione; calusterone; clostebol; danazol; dehydrochlormethyltestosterone; desox- ymethyltestosterone; drostanolone; fluoxymesterone; formebolone; furazabol; gestrinone; 4-hydroxytestosterone; mestanolone; mesterolone; metenolone; methandienone; methasterone; methyldienolone; methyl-1-testosterone; methylnortestosterone; methyltestosterone; metri- bolone; mibolerone; 19-norandrostenedione; norboletone; norclostebol; norethandrolone; oxabolone; oxandrolone; oxymesterone; oxymetholone; prostanozol; quinbolone; stenbolone; 1-testosterone; tetrahydrogestri- none (THG); trenbolone; and other substances with a similar chemical structure or similar biological effect(s). Endogenous anabolic androgenic steroids are also banned when admin- istered exogenously, and include but are not limited to: androstenediol; androstenedione; dihydrotestosterone; prasterone (dehydroepiandroster- one or DHEA); and testosterone; and their metabolites and isomers. Altrenogest (in, for example, Regumate) is still permitted to be used in fillies and mares to regulate their oestrus cycle. Which horses are affected by these rules? The use of anabolic androgenic steroids will be banned from birth. There are no time or therapeutic exemptions of any kind. The ban applies to all unregistered and registered racehorses until their retirement as a race- horse. Horses can be tested at any time and this includes when spelling and in training and racing. Can I have anabolic steroids present in my stables or on my proper- ty even when prescribed by a veterinarian? No – the possession of any anabolic androgenic steroid, including oral paste preparations such as Nitrotain, at any premise used in relation to the training and racing of horses will be considered an offence under the new rules. Further any person who either administers or attempts to administer an anabolic androgenic steroid to a thoroughbred horse at any time commits an offence under these rules. How will compliance with this ban be enforced by Principal Racing Authorities? Compliance with these rules will be enforced by Principal Racing Authorities through regular stable inspections, inspections of medica- tions and medication records and regular out of competition testing of Thoroughbred horses, as well as through routine race day sampling. Any registered horse that tests positive at any time for a banned anabolic androgenic steroid will not be eligible to trial or race for 12 months from the date of collection of the sample. Any unregistered horse that tests positive at any time for a banned ana- bolic androgenic steroid will not be eligible to trial or race for 12 months from the later of a) the date on which the horse, having been registered, is allowed to start in a race or b) the date of collection of the sample. AUSTRALIAN RULES OF RACING RELATING TO THE BANNING OF ANABOLIC STEROIDS Addition to AR.1 as follows: AR.1. “Anabolic Androgenic Steroid Clearing Certificate” means a certifi- cate from an Official Racing Laboratory stating that a sample (taken under the supervision of the Stewards or other official appointed by the Principal Racing Authority to do so) is free of anabolic androgenic steroids or that any anabolic androgenic steroids that are present are at or below the relevant concentrations set out in AR.178C(1). Amendment to AR.15(D)(1) AR 15D. (1) This rule applies to all horses which are eligible to be registered under these Rules but have not yet been registered under these Rules. (2)The Stewards or other official appointed by the Principal Racing Authority may, at any time, direct that a horse be produced to provide a sample to be analysed to determine whether any anabolic androgenic steroid is present in the system of the horse. (3) Where a horse is not produced to provide a sample as directed pursu- ant to AR 15D(2), that horse is ineligible to start in any race or official trial: (a) until at least 12 months after the latter of: (i) the date on which the horse, having been registered under these Rules, is allowed to start in a race under AR45A (subject to any further conditions imposed by the Stewards in their discretion); and (ii) the date on which the horse is in fact produced to provide a sample to be analysed to determine whether any anabolic androgenic steroid is present in the system of the horse; and (b) only after an Anabolic Androgenic Steroid Clearing Certificate is provided in respect of a sample taken from the horse, such sam- ple having been taken at a date determined by the Stewards. (4) Where a sample taken at any time from a horse has detected in it an anabolic an drogenic steroid (other than an anabolic androgenic steroid which is present at or below the relevant concentrations set out in AR 178C(1)), that horse is ineligible to start in any race or official trial: (a) until at least 12 months after the latter of: (i) the date on which the horse, having been registered under these Rules, is allowed to start in a race under AR 5A (subject to any further conditions imposed by the Stewards in their discretion); and (ii) the date the relevant sample was taken; and (b) only after an Anabolic Androgenic Steroid Clearing Certificate is provided in respect of a sample taken from the horse, such sample having been taken at a date determined by the Stewards. (5) Any person must, when directed by the Stewards or other official appointed by the Principal Racing Authority, produce, or otherwise give full access to, the horse so that the Stewards or other official appointed by the Principal Racing Authority may take or cause a sample to be taken and analysed to determine whether any anabolic androgenic steroid is present in the system of the horse. (6) For the avoidance of doubt and without limitation, sub-rule (5) requires an owner, lessee, nominator and/or trainer to produce the horse, or oth- erwise give full access to the horse, even if the horse is: (a) under the care or control of another person; and/or (b) located at the property of another person. (7) Any person who fails to produce, or give full access to, a horse to provide a sample as required by sub-rule (5) may be penalised. Amendment to Rule 177B(2) AR.177B(2). (r) anabolic androgenic steroids (other than an anabolic androgenic ster- oid which is present at or below the relevant concentrations set out in AR.178C(1)), (s) metabolites, artifacts and isomers of any of the substances specified in paragraphs (a) to (r). Rule 178H AR.178H. (1) A horse must not, in any manner, at any time, be adminis- tered an anabolic androgenic steroid. 124 www.racingnsw.com.au PROHIBITED SUBSTANCES