Regu-Mate Cleared By Queensland Stewards

Queensland stewards have deemed, based on veterinary advice, that Regu-Mate is not an anabolic steroid, bringing to a close a saga that put a yearling purchased at last month's Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale under the threat of a racing ban after testing positive for the medication. 

As part of random testing conducted prior to the sale by Racing Queensland of 20% of the yearlings offered, the unidentified colt was found to have altrenogest, a product found in Regu-Mate, in his system. When anabolic steroid reforms were made in Australia last May, Regu-Mate–which regulates cycles and helps maintain pregnancies in fillies and mares–was placed on the banned list for colts by the Australian Racing Board, but many argued the substance is not an anabolic steroid, and is used on stud farms and at sales for colts to aid in modifying studish behavior. 

Racing Queensland's General Manager of Stewards and Integrity Operations Wade Birch said the decision was made after consultation with veterinary experts and the examination of an Australian Racing Board notice containing lists of substances prohibited by the new rules. 

“Upon considering veterinary advice and the Australian Racing Board notice, stewards determined that altrenogest is not an anabolic androgenic steroid, and is therefore not prohibited in male horses if present in a sample taken out of competition,” Birch said. “Despite having a similar chemical structure to an anabolic androgenic steroid, the advice we received satisfies us that altrenogest does not have a similar biological effect. Accordingly, no bans will be imposed on the colt in question.” 

TBA Chief Executive Tom Reilly said yesterday's decision marked a victory for “common sense.” 

“Breeders supported the introduction of the ban on steroids and this decision will provide the industry with much needed certainty around that rule,” he said. “It also marks a triumph for common sense, as there seemed to be little, if any, scientific research or veterinary opinion which pointed to altrenogest being a steroid. We look forward to working with the ARB in a consultative manner to ensure there are no further areas of confusion arising out of the ban on steroids.”