Ohio Harness Horsemen's Association

New Technology for EPO Testing

December 24, 2008

NSW stewards have stepped up their efforts relating to the detection of Erythropoietin (EPO) in racehorses, with 25 stables receiving unannounced visits at Warwick Farm and Randwick in recent days and samples taken from more than 100 horses.

Chief steward Ray Murrihy said that new strategies had been adopted and new technology was now available to the Australian Racing Forensic Laboratory. And more unannounced sampling will continue across metropolitan, provincial and country training centres.

"It would be foolish to think EPO has not been experimented with in the racing industry and what we are doing, we hope, will act as a strong deterrent," Murrihy said.

Murrihy explained that following on from Melbourne counterpart Terry Bailey's concerns with rumoured usage in Victoria, as reported exclusively in The Australian on October 30, and the testing of hair samples, reported exclusively on October 31, Racing NSW sought ways to become more vigilant.

The samples taken are subject to more sensitive test kits, which have been sourced and installed by the ARFL as part of new strategies. In addition, testing will take place around horses coming in from the breakers and pre-trainers and those coming up to the trialling stage in their preparations. "We are targeting horses four to six weeks out from a race, rather than testing them on race day," Murrihy said.

The results of the Warwick Farm tests came back clear and the results of the Randwick sampling will be back from the laboratory.

The effect of EPO on horses is largely no different to any human athlete in terms of the advantage it produces.

"As we know from other sporting areas, EPO allows the athlete to have enormous reserves of stamina," the chief steward said.

Murrihy said that the NSW Racing Minister Kevin Greene was seeking the assistance of government departments and agencies, especially customs and health, in an effort to improve intelligence surrounding the availability of EPO and leakage into the racing industry.

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New Technology for EPO Testing