ADOPTION OF A REVISED ARF ASIAN SCREENING LIMIT (ASL) FOR FLUNIXIN

The National Horseracing Authority (NHA) is a full member of the Asian Racing Federation (ARF) and the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) and a signatory to the International Agreement on Breeding, Racing and Wagering. Through its participation in these organisations, the NHA contributes to and is guided by, internationally recognised scientific research and evidence-based recommendations relating to equine therapeutic medications.

This collaborative approach ensures that therapeutic substances, which may be necessary for the legitimate treatment of horses outside of racing, are only subject to regulatory action on race days when present at concentrations scientifically demonstrated to have the potential to affect the performance. As a matter of policy, the NHA does not prosecute findings where the substance concentrations fall below established therapeutic effect thresholds.

Recent administration trial research conducted under the auspices of the ARF has resulted in a revision to the recommended screening and prosecution sensitivity for the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) flunixin in plasma. The research supports a modest increase in the reporting threshold, reflecting current scientific evidence regarding the concentration at which the substance may exert a pharmacological effect in the racehorse.

The new ARF Asian Screening Limit (ASL), which has been adopted by the NHA, is reflected on the NHA/Laboratory website, as below:

Flunixin: 3 ng/mL in plasma

(Corresponding to a detection time of approximately 5 days following intravenous administration at 1.1 mg/kg once daily for up to 5 consecutive days)

Vee Moodley
Chief Executive