Keeneland, Fasig-Tipton to begin anabolic steroid policy in January

Keeneland, Fasig-Tipton to begin anabolic steroid policy in

January

Keeneland and Fasig-Tipton jointly announced on Thursday that their policy on

exogenous anabolic steroids -- which states no exogenous anabolic steroids

should be administered within 45 days of sale -- will be implemented beginning

in January for any weanlings and yearlings offered at their 2008 sales.

Exogenous anabolic steroids are federally controlled substances classified

for therapeutic use in racing and sales horses in the United States, and have

been under recent review by the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium.

Keeneland and Fasig-Tipton formed a committee comprised of representatives from

the two sales companies, the Consignors and Commercial Breeders Association (CBA),

local veterinarians and leading authorities on steroids and drug testing, to

establish a policy regarding sale horses.

"This is not a competitive issue; this is an integrity issue. By establishing

a policy, and developing testing procedures that are practical and fair to all

involved, we safeguard the credibility of the entire Thoroughbred industry,"

Keeneland President and CEO Nick Nicholson and Fasig-Tipton President Walt

Robertson said in a joint statement.

Beginning in January 2008, the policy will be implemented as follows:

Keeneland and Fasig-Tipton are the first national Thoroughbred auction

companies to call for a policy regarding exogenous anabolic steroid use on sale

horses.