The Racing Medication and Testing Consortium board of directors has recommended withdrawal guidelines and plasma thresholds for a bronchodilator, a muscle relaxant, and four anabolic steroids.

According to a release from RMTC, the scientifically identified withdrawal guidelines and plasma thresholds are for the short-acting bronchodilator glycopyrrolate, the muscle relaxant methocarbamol, and four anabolic steroids, three of which are endogenous (naturally occurring) in the horse. A recommendation for the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication firocoxib has also been approved pending resolution of one outstanding issue, according to the release. The RMTC's action was based on the recommendation of its scientific advisory committee

"Administration studies on these medications were developed and funded by the RMTC over the past few years in an effort to provide horsemen and practicing veterinarians with withdrawal guidelines that will enable the therapeutic use of these medications without compromising the integrity of racing competition or the welfare of our human and equine athletes," Rick Arthur, DVM, chair of the RMTC scientific advisory committee and equine medical director for the California Horse Racing Board, said in a statement.

"The results of these studies have been eagerly anticipated by the industry, and we will continue to conduct important research on other therapeutic medications that are commonly used in managing the health of racehorses