The Maryland Racing Commission (MRC) Sept. 17 adopted uniform medication and drug-testing rules as part of a push in the Mid-Atlantic region.

The Baltimore Sun reported the new regulations take effect Jan. 1, 2014. They include a list of threshold testing levels for 24 commonly used therapeutic medications and use of only furosemide, also called Salix or Lasix, on race day.

Maryland is one of only a few states that still permit adjunct bleeder drugs on race day. The Sun reported that some veterinarians in Maryland argued the substances shouldn’t be banned, but the MRC opted to do so.

The newspaper also reported the MRC plans to heightened penalties for drug-related violations