Flumethasone is a therapeutic substance which forms part of locally available veterinary injectable preparations. It is prescribed and administered to the racehorse for injury associated pain and inflammation.
Within international literature and NHA literature there is no publication of a detection time in the racehorse for this prohibited substance. The NHA laboratory conducts screening and confirmation for the presence of this substance in both urine and blood (plasma) to international guidance, at a level which is considered to have an effect on the horse.

• Flumethasone intravenous (IV) administration

Hereby notification is provided that following an intravenous (IV) administration of a typical therapeutic dose of Flumethasone to a racehorse, a detection period of a least 48 hours must be considered. A period of withdrawal which is longer than this period must be applied to prevent a level of Flumethasone which would result in a positive finding for this substance in either urine or blood (plasma).

• Flumethasone intra-articular (IA) administration

Rule 72.1.46 of the NHA specifies that it is a prohibited practise and a contravention to “race a horse within 7 days, calculated inclusively from the date of treatment, after the administration of any intra-articular corticosteroid treatment”. This rule applies for intra-articular treatment with the corticosteroid Flumethasone.