The Association of Racing Commissioners International (RCI) said Jan. 5 it is taking steps to ensure regulatory agencies have adequate authority to sanction licensees who violate existing federal restrictions limiting the use of illegally compounded medications.

An already approved model rules policy would outlaw the possession or use of a drug, substance, or medication not specifically approved by an appropriate federal agency absent permission of the commission or its designee; ban the possession, use, or distribution of a compounded medication on track property if there is an United States Food and Drug Administration-approved equivalent of that substance available for purchase; require that a compounded medication be dispensed only by prescription issued by a licensed veterinarian to meet the medical needs of a specific horse and for use only in that specific horse; and create a rules violation for the possession of a compounded medication not properly labeled consistent with existing federal requirements.

"Commission investigators are finding that some are seeking to circumvent existing doping rules by using new drugs created by combining multiple substances in a compound," RCI president Ed Martin said. "Existing federal rules requiring that compounded medications be dispensed only by veterinary prescription to address a specific medical need of an individual horse are being ignored by some. It is a problem that those doing this believe they won’t get caught by the feds.

"Racing commissions are taking steps to ensure that they can confiscate the substances and bring action against those who use or distribute these illegal compounds