When HISA rolled out last year, they also announced the Anti-Doping and Medication Control (ADMC) that would go into effect this year. There are many moving parts, so a closer look at what was proposed, what went into effect, and what happens next can be helpful. Here’s what we know right now.
The Formation of HISA
Last year, we shared details about the newly formed HISA and its benefits for owners and trainers. It’s a federal law overseen by the FTC and is responsible for drafting and enforcing uniform safety and integrity rules for thoroughbred racing in the United States. By July 2022, every thoroughbred racing participant was required to comply with the HISA rules.
The Roll Out of ADMC
Along with the overarching HISA, the Anti-Doping, and Medication Control Act was to go into effect this year. From the HISA press release early this year:
The ADMC Program’s Prohibited Substances List is divided into two categories: 1) Banned Substances that are never permitted in a horse and 2) Controlled Medications that are permitted outside specified periods. Horses will now be tested for these substances following races as well as outside competition windows through an intelligence-based testing system developed by HIWU. The ADMC Program incorporates internationally recognized standards set by organizations including the Association of Racing Commissioners International (ARCI), World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI).
However, in March, a federal judge in Texas ordered that HISA stop enforcing these rules until May 1st.
Injunction Efforts
The efforts to stop the rules from being enforced were based on the legal requirement that the Administrative Procedures Act typically requires a 30-day waiting period prior to the implementation of new rules. The Texas judge ruled that normal procedures should have been applied to the enforcement of the ADMC rules.
(Note that things may have changed since this article was written.)
The Future of Horseracing
None of this means ADMC is dead in the water. The injunction has pushed back the enforcement, but that could and probably will change shortly. HISA and thoroughbred owners and trainers across the country want to work together to create a standardized system of safety and accountability for every horse.
To learn more about the rules and implementation, contact our team.
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