The Association of Racing Commissioners International (RCI) has voted to recommend increased penalties for the detection of multiple non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, commonly known as NSAIDs, in racehorses.

The changes adopted by the organization created three classes of NSAID "stacking" in an effort to differentiate violations caused by trace amounts found in a post-race sample from more serious violations where the concentrations exceeded primary regulatory thresholds.

"The new policy is intended to increase penalties for more serious violations, providing for a mandatory fine, suspension, and loss of purse," RCI said in a release. "RCI regulatory policies continue to forbid the administration of NSAIDs on race day, a process known as 'NSAID Stacking'."

Ed Martin, RCI president, added, "RCI and policies in most racing jurisdictions require that all NSAIDs be discontinued at least 48-hours prior to race day for all horses. That policy was adopted to ensure that the medications will not interfere with pre-race veterinary examinations. A very small number of licensees have been known to try to circumvent that policy by administering small amounts of multiple NSAIDs to gain the overall effect of a larger dose of a single medication. These increased penalties are targeted to those who would deliberately try to circumvent the restrictions