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LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP)–Trainers of horses that test positive for anabolic steroids at the 2008 Breeders’ Cup in October will face a one-year suspension from the event, and three-time violators will be banned for life, according to new rules announced Friday.
The Breeders’ Cup will be at Santa Anita Park in California on Oct. 24-25, and the track will also host the event in 2009.
“We must provide an even playing field for all our equine athletes if we are to continue to offer the best thoroughbred racing in the world,” said Greg Avioli, Breeders’ Cup president and chief executive officer. “Our number one priority remains preserving the integrity of our competition and protecting the welfare of our athletes.”
Beginning in 2009, the Breeders’ Cup will neither fund stakes purses nor award Breeders’ Cup Challenge events to racetracks in the U.S. and Canada unless those jurisdictions adopt model rules on anabolic steroids.
The Breeders’ Cup currently funds $6 million in purses and schedules 53 Challenge races in the U.S. and Canada that are automatic qualifiers for the world championships. Anabolic steroids are already banned in Europe and Asia, where Challenge races are being held this year.
“The Breeders’ Cup board believes it’s crucial that we take a leadership role in eliminating anabolic steroids from our sport,” said William S. Farish Jr., Breeders’ Cup chairman.
This year’s Breeders’ Cup will be the first time in the event’s history that post-race steroid testing will be conducted. The top four finishers in all 14 races, and at least one horse selected at random, will be tested. Violations will result in forfeited purse money and suspensions.
There will also be out-of-competition testing for EPO (blood doping) 10 days before this year’s event and TCO2 (milk shaking) testing before all 14 races.
A failed EPO test would make the horse ineligible for competition and the trainer subject to suspension. Failed TCO2 tests will result in forfeited purses and suspensions. The EPO and TCO2 testing policies began at last year’s event in New Jersey.
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