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Jim Gagliano, president of the Jockey Club, the breed registry for thoroughbreds, said that his group could support federal legislation to oversee horse racing, but he criticized several aspects of Udall's proposal. He said the bill's definition for performance-enhancing drugs was too vague, that the ban on "knowingly" providing such drugs to horses set too high a bar for prosecution, and that the penalties might not go far enough.
Dr. Sheila Lyons, founder and director of the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, urged Congress to pass the bill.
"We need this legislation to compel compliance with veterinary board regulations," she said.
Udall's bill would ban substances such as Lasix, a diuretic that can enhance performance. Race-day use of Lasix is banned in most other countries.
Stirling, of the National Horsemen's Benevolent & Protective Association, defended the use of Lasix during his actual testimony. The medication is used commonly to stop bleeding in the throat and lungs of racehorses. He said it was necessary to keep horses healthy and it would be inhumane to withhold it.
"Lasix is not performance-enhancing," he argued.
Lyons had the opposite conclusion: "Lasix is performance-enhancing."
[Associated
Press;
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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