biomarkers (PED testing)

[Robert Fischer]

What do you think about this?


I do not have competence in drug testing, I don't have an understanding of the extent of drug testing that is currently in practice. Some of this may be incorrect information.

Undetectable Performance Enhancing Drugs or 'PEDs' are often NOT what we see tested for, and not substances that we see occasional disqualifications. These are not the 'overages' things.

Often these drugs are metabolized out of the system by raceday. Some are tested for which creates a requirement of the vet/owner/orTrainer administering the substance in a dosage 'window' that allows significant performance enhancement without failing the test. Some are not even tested for.

However, many of the substances that increase performance do leave behind 'biomarkers'.
They leave levels in the horse that are higher than a reasonable 'natural' state.
I'm not competent in this area, but I can say that the blood doping can result in things like hemoglobin levels. The steroids and hormones can rase a number of things one example being called the 't/e' (testosterone/epitestosterone) levels..., there's something used in PED testing called the 'miRNA signature' that apparently shows a different gene? expression, thyroid drugs have biomarkers, the stimulants, etc...

In general, most of the stuff that enhances performance does so in a significant process which leaves biomarkers and metabolites at levels and in a 'heavy use' program these are often outside of the natural range.

There's leaders and players who want doping for various reason, others who don't believe doping is happening, others who don't want to rock the boa or don't want change.

The elephant in the room with such testing would seem to be 'Cost'. It is likely too expensive.

[MJC922]

Overages I personally don't care about, if they want stuff like bute to be legal then why should I care if the test comes up slightly high? Whenever it was made legal was the intent to kill off the pain or not? I don't want the drug used at all. It's a mistake that it's even legal. However, it is legal currently so if they're going to use it who cares if it tests slightly high? I mean we don't want overdosing obviously but if something comes up a little high then issue a fine, publish the specifics of it and move on. Overages of legal meds shouldn't be headline news in this game IMO. It's a minor incident as far as I'm concerned and I say this as a player who truly wants drug-free racing. If you're going to have drugs then overages go along with it. Not a big deal unless we're talking about unsafe levels of something, if actual overdose levels are detected then of course it becomes a whole different thing.

[Robert Fischer]

(probably) too expensive

also the industry isn't really touching the subject and/or admit it, because it exposes a lack of integrity. One without a clear solution.

I assume much of the industry is aware... It's clear that a bunch of the trainers and owners are... I'm sure that some members are naive to it.

A good example is Jason Servis. He was using the undetectable PEDs and had zero respect for staying 'under the radar'. He just cheated as potent and often as possible. There were players/fans that were naive of Servis. Many fans also reacted with logical and illogical responses. Some industry members made comments, most seemed silent and some defended him.
There was also an awful lot of interviews and smiling from the horse racing media.

Players/Fans are always going to be mostly ignorant, and mainly acknowledge whatever the authorities tell them.