Anabolic
steroids
By
David Auer
Director
Racing
Science Centre
Although
anabolic steroids are drugs as defined in the Rules of Greyhound
racing,
certain steroids have traditionally been prescribed as one of a
number
of approaches, to delay or suppress cycling in bitches.
Under
the Standard for the Uniform Scheduling of Drugs and Poisons, anabolic
steroids
are scheduled as a prescription only medicine (S4).
Prescription
only medicines must be labelled with the veterinarian who
prescribed
them, their contact address and telephone number, the name and
strength
of the medication and the instructions for use.
The
animal must be under the direct care of the veterinary surgeon who must
record
the treatment prescribed.
Many
anabolic steroids are also scheduled as Dangerous Drugs in the
Queensland
Drugs Misuse Act.
Anabolic
steroids scheduled in the Drugs Misuse Act are not necessarily
liquids
for injection.
For
example, the schedule contains ethyloestranol, which is available as a
veterinary
preparation as a paste for oral administration.
There
are serious potential implications for trainers who either unlawfully
possess
or supply anabolic steroids.
The
Drugs Misuse Act states that persons who unlawfully possess or supply
anabolic
steroids are guilty of a crime.
The
Drugs Misuse Act also states that the maximum respective penalties for
possession
and supply are two and five year's imprisonment.
Although
certain anabolic steroids have traditionally been used to postpone
cycling
in bitches, trainers who possess anabolic steroids unlawfully are
not
exempt from the requirements of the Drugs Misuse Act.
Because
of the serious consequences of the illegal possession of an anabolic
steroid,
trainers should consult their veterinarians for advice regarding
delaying
cycling in bitches.
In
addition, the Chairman of Stewards or the Queensland Police Service
should
be advised if you suspect that scheduled substances including
anabolic
steroids have been illegally offered for sale to participants in
the
industry.