CPMA provides overage avoidance recommendations

The Canadian Pari-Mutuel Agency (CPMA) would like to remind trainers, owners, veterinarians and other stakeholders that the testing of official samples for the presence Arsenic, Hydrocortisone and Mirtazapine started on August 1st, 2022, as indicated on the memo to the industry published on July 7, 2022.

To minimize the risk of a positve test in their racehorse(s), the CPMA provides the following recommendations:

Arsenic

Considering horse and treatment variabilities, the use of arsenic containing supplements (including injectables) should be withdrawn for at least 48h before racing.

The CPMA has adopted the international threshold of 300ng/mL in urine to control the use of arsenic in Canadian racehorses.

Hydrocortisone

Synthetic hydrocortisone is being regulated through the detection of hydrocortisone esters in blood and urine.

Elimination guidelines:

Solu-Cortef 250mg IV single – 48h

Cortavance 152 µg TOP single – 24h

Mirtazapine

It is an antidepressant used to treat a wide range of conditions, from behavioral problems to loss of appetite in cats. No elimination guideline is available.

Any detection of mirtazapine, hydrocortisone esters or amounts of arsenic above 300ng/mL (urine) may result in a positive test.

The CPMA strongly recommends consulting a veterinarian on any decision to administer supplements or medications to a racehorse.

From the Canadian Pari-Mutuel Agency