A group of scientists met with representatives of the Thoroughbred Owners of California (TOC) Jan. 18 to discuss exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhaging (EIPH) and later issued a joint statement supporting use of the anti-bleeding drug furosemide.

The TOC issued the statement via a Jan. 27 press release. The meeting wasn’t publicized ahead of time and was invitation-only, according to the TOC.

The TOC, like some other horsemen’s groups in North America, believes the use of race-day furosemide, also called Salix or Lasix, shouldn’t be banned. California later this year will host the Breeders’ World Championships, at which race-day Salix is scheduled to be banned in all races.

Breeders’ Cup has given no public indication it plans to reverse its planned policy. During the 2012 World Championships at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Salix was banned in 2-year-old stakes races only

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