On Wednesday, January 20, officials with the Canadian Pari-Mutuel Agency issued a memorandum to regulatory bodies, racing associations and horsepeople’s groups stating that the CPMA 2016 Elimination Guidelines Booklet is now available for distribution.
Several elimination guidelines have been removed or significantly modified. The changes in the booklet will take effect March 1, 2016.
A summary of the changes appears in the pdf below. Prominent changes include;
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Corticosteroids: Many elimination guidelines for corticosteroids have been lengthened. Short acting corticosteroids now have at least a 48 hour elimination guideline. Longer acting corticosteroids have lengthier elimination guideline periods.
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Anabolic steroids: Elimination guidelines have been removed.
Copies of the 2016 booklet have been sent to provincial regulatory bodies and to the racing office of racecourses across Canada. Requests for copies may also be made at no charge by calling 1-800-268-8835 or by requesting one via email (send requests to [email protected]).
For all orders, please indicate the following:
· the requested number of copies of the 2016 elimination guidelines booklet
· your name or organization
· your full mailing address, and
· your telephone number
As many of the elimination guidelines have changed and many have been lengthened, CPMA wishes to highlight to industry participants the importance of carefully reading the new booklet when considering the use of therapeutic medications in racehorses in Canada to avoid the risk a positive test. In addition and further to the CPMA notice to industry of May 29, 2014, the information in the booklet should not be relied upon when using compounded medications.
CPMA recommends that owners and trainers consult their own veterinarian for advice and guidance in the use of all drugs and medications in their horses.
The updated CPMA guidelines are available below or at this link: CPMA 2016 Elimination Guidelines Booklet
I think that it is important
I think that it is important to point out that having "removed" the guideline, this does not mean that the CPMA is saying they are not testing for the presence of these substances and metabolites. They have removed the guidelines, not the testing. The CPMA is just not providing guidance for these medications for future use.