Section 70. Phenylbutazone, flunixin, and other NSAIDs

A. Generally. By this regulation, the Virginia Racing Commission prohibits the use of multiple NSAIDs in a horse on any given day (stacking) within 96 hours prior to the horse's race. Despite this prohibition of stacking, this regulation specifically permits the use of one of either phenylbutazone, flunixin, or ketoprofen in racehorses in the quantities provided for in this chapter.

B. Quantitative testing. Any horse to which phenylbutazone, flunixin, or ketoprofen has been administered shall be subject to testing at the direction of the commission veterinarian to determine the quantitative levels of phenylbutazone, flunixin, and ketoprofen or the presence of other substances that may be present.

C. Disciplinary actions. The stewards may take disciplinary actions for reports of quantitative testing by the primary testing laboratory for levels of phenylbutazone quantified at levels above 2.0 micrograms per milliliter of serum or plasma, flunixin quantified at levels above 20 ng per milliliter of serum or plasma, or ketoprofen quantified at levels above 2.0 ng per milliliter of serum or plasma in horses following races, qualifying races, and official timed workouts for the stewards or commission veterinarian, and may use the most recent revision of the Association of Racing Commissioners International (RCI) Uniform Classification Guidelines for Foreign Substances and the Multiple Violations Penalty System as a guide. The stewards, in their discretion, may impose other more stringent disciplinary actions against trainers or other permit holders who violate the provisions under which phenylbutazone, flunixin, or ketoprofen is permitted by the commission.

Historical Notes

Derived from Volume 12, Issue 24, eff. September 18, 1996; amended, Virginia Register Volume 14, Issue 22, eff. August 20, 1998; Volume 16, Issue 23, eff. July 10, 2000; Volume 18, Issue 19, eff. May 10, 2002; Volume 21, Issue 16, eff. May 18, 2005; Volume 24, Issue 16, eff. April 14, 2008; Volume 25, Issue 17, eff. May 27, 2009; Volume 28, Issue 15, eff. April 16, 2012; Volume 29, Issue 13, eff. March 1, 2013; Volume 30, Issue 08, eff. January 1, 2014; Volume 31, Issue 18, eff. May 1, 2015.

Statutory Authority

§ 59.1-369 of the Code of Virginia.