viii EQUINE VETERINARY EDUCATION / AE / JULy 2008
of the horse must come before financial considerations in
the decision making process. In the end, all ethical deci-
sions must be made with one?s own conscience.
Dr. Berk, of Ocala, Fla., is currently the chair of the
AAEP?s Professional Conduct and Ethics Committee.
Ethics, cont.
The AAEP wishes to thank Pfizer Animal Health for their
generous sponsorship of the recent Dentistry short courses
and Emergency and Disaster Preparedness presentations.
The Dentistry short courses took place at several universi-
ties this spring. Host schools included Kansas State
University, Colorado State University, University of
Wisconsin, Tuskegee University, St. George?s University and
University of Pennsylvania. To learn more about the den-
tistry short course experience, visit www.aaep.org/
Dentistry_ShortCourse.htm.
The Emergency and Disaster Preparedness presentations
took place both in the fall of 2007 and spring of this year.
Host schools included Auburn University, Tuskegee
University, Ross University, St. George?s University, Ontario
Veterinary College, University of Montreal, University of
Wisconsin and Tufts University. For more information on
emergency and disaster preparedness, visit www.aaep.org/
emergency_prep.com.
The AAEP thanks Pfizer Animal Health for their sponsorship of recent Emergency
and Disaster Preparedness presentations and the Dentistry short courses
During the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium?s
(RMTC) recent board meeting, RMTC directors, in consul-
tation with the RMTC Scientific Advisory Committee, unan-
imously adopted several policy recommendations, which
were forwarded to regulators, horsemen and veterinarians.
The recommendations are as follows:
?When a state racing commission implements the RMTC
and RCI Androgenic Anabolic Steroid Model Rule, there
should be a 90-day grace period before the penalty
enforcement begins; subsequent penalties should be in
accord with the RMTC and RCI Uniform Model
Penalties. The trainer
and owner should be
notified if there is an
anabolic steroid over-
age during the 90-day
grace period.
?The androgenic anabolic steroids (AAS) boldenone, nan-
drolone, stanozolol and testosterone shall not be adminis-
tered within 30 days prior to a race.
?One of those four anabolic steroids may be administered
more than 30 days prior to the race only if all of the fol-
lowing conditions are met. 1) The anabolic steroid is
administered by a licensed veterinarian in connection with
the diagnosis of the illness or injury in the horse for which
the steroid is necessary; 2) The veterinarian must complete
a treatment report and file the report with the appropriate
regulatory designee within 24 hours of the treatment; and
3) The horse must test below the stated model rule thresh-
old concentration prior to being allowed to enter to race.
?Only licensed veterinarians may possess the aboveanabol-
ic steroids and administer them to racehorses. They shall
not be dispensed for administration by personnel associat-
ed with the horse.
?Claimed horses may be tested for the presence of anabol-
ic steroids at the request of the claimant and results shall
be reported to the regulatory body. Upon a positive test,
the claim may be voided at the option of the claimant, and
testing costs shall be borne by the original owner. If the
test is negative, the claimant shall reimburse the regulato-
ry body for the costs of testing.
?W ithdrawal times are variable and nothing in this policy
should be interpreted as condoning the use of anabolic
and androgenic steroids in horses intended to race.
Essentially, this policy prohibits the use of all anabolic
steroids within 30 days of a race and establishes strict
requirements for the administration of the four permitted
anabolic steroids.
Essentially, this policy prohibits the use of all anabolic
steroids within 30 days of a race and establishes strict
requirements for the administration of the four permitted
anabolic steroids.
RMTC recommends new anabolic steroids policy