THA: What You Need To Know About New HISA Drug Sanctions

With the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit's (HIWU) first pending rulings for medication and anti-doping related violations having just been made public, the Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (THA) issued a reminder Thursday of the possible sanctions under this new federal framework.

As the THA points out, taken as a whole the penalty scheme under the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) is significantly more stringent than that imposed previously by state commissions.

These new sanctions pertain to medication positives and other anti-doping related infractions that come after May 22, when HIWU's Anti-Doping and Medication Control (ADMC) program went into effect.

Two of the pending final rulings issued on HIWU's website concern the possible possession of banned substances–namely the thyroid medication Levothyroxine. The other concerns the possible presence of cobalt, another banned substance, in a test.

The trainer facing possible sanctions for an alleged cobalt positive is Mario Dominguez. The horse in question is Petulant Delight. According to HIWU, the date of the alleged violation is May 24, the same day Petulant Delight won a claiming race at Parx Racing. HIWU provides no other details on the circumstances behind the alleged violation.

As the THA points out, all Anti-Doping violations “which include the Presence of, Use or Attempted Use of, Possession of, or Administration or Attempted Administration of a Banned Substance” carry a potential two-year suspension and a fine of up to $25,000.

Provisional suspensions for these violations are imposed immediately and can only be lifted through a provisional hearing.

When it comes to the “Use or Attempted Use or Administration or Attempted Administration of a Controlled Medication Method”–like milk-shaking–the possible penalties are as follows:

1st Offense, 60 days, up to $5,000 fine or 5% of the purse, loss of purse

2nd Offense within a 2-year period, 90 days, up to $10,000 fine or 10% of the purse, loss of purse

3rd Offense within a 2-year period, 120 days, up to $25,000 or 25% of the purse, loss of purse

All “Controlled Medication Violations” result in the loss of the purse. Class A and Class B violations result in a suspension for a first offense, and more than one Class C offense in a two-year period will also result in a suspension.

The possible penalties for Controlled Medication violations are as follows:

Class C

1st Offense, up to $500 fine, loss of purse

2nd Offense within a 2-year period, 15 days, up to $1,000 fine, loss of purse

3rd Offense within a 2-year period, 30 days, up to $2,500 fine, loss of purse

Class B

1st Offense, 15 days, up to $1,000 fine, loss of purse

2nd Offense within a 2-year period, 30 days, up to $2,500 fine, loss of purse

3rd Offense within a 2-year period, 60 days, up to $5,000 fine, loss of purse

Class A

1st Offense, 60 days, up to $5,000 fine or 5% of purse, loss of purse

2nd Offense within a 2-year period, 90 days, up to $10,000 fine or 10% of purse, loss of purse

3rd Offense within a 2-year period, 120 days, up to $25,000 fine or 25% of purse, loss of purse

According to the THA, HIWU chief of science, Mary Scollay, advises trainers to give the barn, tack room and feed room a regular thorough cleaning. Ensure that all medications are properly labeled and stored, and remove any banned substances or expired medications from the premises.

Contact Scollay if you have a question about any supplements you may be using. You can text her a photo of the label to (859) 489-7677 to help determine if it is considered a banned substance.

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