Secretary, Australian Greyhound Veterinary Association
Senior Partner, Monash Veterinary Clinic
Owner, breeder of greyhounds for in excess of 20 years
All sports face a significant challenge in keeping out performance enhancing drugs and the recent announcement by Greyhounds Australasia endorsing improved drug testing is a positive step by Greyhound Racing, shared by many veterinarians to ensure the code maintains credibility.
While debate may be occurring from some participants on the matter, it is important to recognise that greyhound racing needs to keep pace with drug testing protocols.
The Australian Greyhound Veterinary Association (AGVA)
The AGVA is an associated body of veterinarians with a special interest in greyhounds and it has over 100 members throughout Australasia. The AGVA provides advice to other veterinarians on the treatment of greyhounds and helps advise greyhound racing bodies on welfare policy. Respected past Presidents of the association include Dr Harry Cooper and Dr John Murray.
The AGVA’s role on this subject has been to help GA and the Australian Controlling Bodies keep pace with the changes to testing protocols and maximise the opportunity for detection, particularly for Anabolic Steroids.
At the same time, GA also wanted to keep bitches racing and sought advice on which products may be permissible to keep them off-season, continue to race and have minimal performance enhancing characteristics.
As a result, the AGVA reviewed the situation and after months of investigation and sourcing feedback from various AGVA members, the AGVA executive committee recommended the use of “Ethyloestrenol” for racing bitches.
The product “Ethyloestrenol”
The AGVA recommended the prescribed use of “Ethyloestrenol” which when administered orally to greyhound bitches regulates their reproductive cycle.
Ethyloestrenol was chosen because there is sufficient evidence to suggest that it does not enhance a greyhounds racing performance and has minimal impact on the welfare of the female racing greyhound.
Also, there is evidence that at the appropriate dose, Ethyloestrenol is a safe drug formulation and is effective in regulating a female greyhounds reproductive cycle.
The AGVA is not aware of any recorded cases where adverse effects have been recorded using Ethyloestrenol because if reactions had occurred veterinarians are obligated to report them to the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority.
The new testing protocols
Improvements to drug testing protocols are in line with changes being made in other sports and racing codes so as to keep pace with the changing nature of drugs and their composition.
The new testing protocols will be phased in to make sure that the various laboratories have testing operational from March 1st 2008.
Again, I would like to remind participants that all sports face a significant challenge in keeping out performance enhancing drugs and these measures are designed to maintain greyhound racings credibility and ensure all greyhounds compete on a level playing field.
If participants have any concerns in this area it is highly recommended that they consult their veterinarian.
For further details, please contact Dr Ray Ferguson, Secretary Australian Greyhound Veterinary Association
Contact:
Dr Ray Ferguson
E-mail: rayferg@bigpond.net.au
