CHRB Adopts New, Stronger Penalties for Medication Violations

In an effort to standardize and implement tougher rules nationally, the CHRB adopted the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium’s (RMTC) penalty guideline model rules, with some modifications for California’s jurisdiction, at its April 19^th board meeting. California is the first major racing state to adopt RMTC’s model rules without making significant reductions in penalties. The intent of these new rules is to hold all licensees connected to the horse accountable – including trainers, veterinarians, owners, and other licensees – and to improve a level playing field, making California a more attractive business environment.

The TOC and other industry representatives, as members of the RMTC, have been involved in developing uniform penalty guidelines for medication violations for several years. These guidelines were presented to the Association of Racing Commissioners International (ARCI), the National Association of Professional Racing Administrators (NAPRA) Joint Model Rules Committee, the Maddy Equine Analytical Chemistry Laboratory at U.C. Davis, and the CHRB’s Equine Medical Director for their consideration and input. The rule changes adopted by the CHRB involve:

• Rule 1843.2 Classification of Drug Substances: Previously, Rule 1843.2 categorized drug substances into seven classifications. The amended rule will now use the ARCI’s five drug classifications as the basis for the CHRB Penalty Categories Listing by Classification.

• Rule 1843.3 Penalties for Medication Violations: The addition of Rule 1843.3 has been one of the most scrutinized rule processes in recent history. The rule provides specific penalty guidelines by drug classification, by licensee type (e.g., trainer; owner), and by number of infractions. The penalties also state that mitigation and aggravating circumstances must be taken into account when accessing a case, which may reduce or increase the penalty, respectively. It also clarifies “suspension” language with the intent of enhancing the legitimacy and effectiveness of a suspension penalty.

Please take a moment to review the full text of these two rules and consider discussing with your trainer and veterinarian how they might effect your equine operations.