§603.190. Erythropoietin and Darbepoietin Antibody Testing Program

A finding by the Illinois Racing Board Equine Testing Laboratory, or other Board-approved laboratory, that a pre-race or post-race sample taken from a horse entered to start in a race has high titers of antibodies against erythropoietin or darbepoietin, utilizing the anti-recombinant human EPO antibody test, shall establish that the horse is unfit to race in any subsequent race and shall result in the following actions by the Board:

 

a)         The stewards shall be notified of the name of the horse for placement on the Stewards' list.  The horse shall not be entered or allowed to race in any subsequent race until the horse has tested negative for the antibodies of erythropoietin or darbepoietin.  An owner or trainer whose horse has tested positive for high titers of erythropoietin or darbepoietin antibodies may not request the horse be retested until 21 days following the date of the initial positive test.

 

b)         All requests after the initial positive test for the retesting of a horse shall be in writing and directed to the Stewards, accompanied by a $50 payment for administrative and testing costs.  Following receipt of a timely request for retesting, the presentation of the horse at a permitted racetrack premises in the State of Illinois approved by the Stewards, and the receipt of the $50 retesting fee, the Stewards shall direct the State Veterinarian to take a blood sample from the horse for the purpose of retesting.

 

c)         A horse shall not be subject to disqualification from the race, or from any share of the purse in the race, nor shall the trainer of the horse be subject to a penalty based solely upon a finding by the laboratory that the antibody of erythropoietin or darbepoietin was present in the sample taken from that horse.

 

d)         A horse that tests positive with the anti-recombinant human EPO antibody test remains subject to the requirements of this Section despite being sold or otherwise transferred.

 

e)         The split sample testing provisions of Section 603.120 shall not be applicable to erythropoietin or darbepoietin antibody testing conducted pursuant to this Section.

 

(Source:  Added at 31 Ill. Reg. 1478, effective January 1, 2007)