Testing for clenbuterol continues this racing season, and will include the lower Ontario Quarter Horse threshold levels introduced last year. This Ontario Racing Commission (ORC) initiative, introduced with the support of the Quarter Racing Owners of Ontario Inc. (QROOI), complements the efforts of the Canadian Pari-Mutuel Agency (CPMA), which has included clenburerol in its testing protocol for over 20 years. Clenbuterol is a bronchial dilator and is sold under the name Ventipulmin® as an injectable suspension and oral syrup.
Trainers are reminded that it could take approximately 30 days for clenbuterol levels to fall below the minimum threshold levels that have been established – 200pg/ml or less in urine and 1 – 2 pg/ml in blood. The goal of the initiative is to eliminate any abuse, over-use, or non-therapeutic use of this drug, and when used, confirm that the drug has been legally obtained and correctly administered.
As noted in a Directive issued in August 2011, regulatory action for confirmed presence of clenbuterol will include:
• Disqualification of the horse from the race;
• Return and redistribution of all earnings from that race;
• Horse made ineligible to race until:
– owner produces a negative test result; and
– the ORC investigation is complete.
