British Horseracing Authority announces zero tolerance on use of anabolic steroids

Keeneland and Fasig-Tipton have favored testing for years

LEXINGTON, Ky. (July 1, 2014)  — While the British Horseracing Authority on June 24 announced a zero-tolerance policy toward the use of anabolic steroids, Keeneland officials said the Lexington operation has been adhering to such rules for years.

“Keeneland and Fasig-Tipton were the first to initiate testing for anabolic steroids and the first to fund extensive research to determine threshold levels for androgenous anabolic steroids,” said Boyd T. Browning, President of Fasig-Tipton Company. “Thousands of yearlings have been sold since the inception of this policy, and there has not been a single positive test for anabolic steroids.”

In 2007, Keeneland and Fasig-Tipton formed a committee comprising representatives from the two sales companies, the Consignors and Commercial Breeders Association (CBA), leading veterinarians and prominent authorities on steroids and drug testing in the U.S. to establish a policy regarding sale horses.

In December 2007, the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company announced a similar procedure would be available starting with its 2-year-olds in training sale in February 2008.

In 2011, after extensive research, the sales companies expanded their available testing for buyers to include androgenous anabolic steroids.