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(Reuters) - The
U.S. Anti-Doping Agency said on Monday the recently-passed
Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) that will allow the
body to oversee a national drug testing program for horse racing
signifies a new era in the sport.
HISA, which will put anti-doping/medication control and safety
programs under the umbrella of one independent, non-governmental
authority as opposed to individual state racing commissions, was
signed into law by U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday.
"This passage signifies the beginning of a new era in the
storied history of the horse racing industry," USADA chief
executive Travis Tygart said in a statement.
"The landmark legislation will establish a uniform approach to
better protect horses and jockeys, and to bolster the strength
and fairness of the sport."
Tygart said USADA welcomed the opportunity to develop uniform
rules and implement vigorous independent testing and enforcement
which he feels will contribute to the longevity and legacy of
the sport of horse racing.
"We are excited to spend the near future contributing to the
design of a robust set of rules and customizing our
gold-standard athlete service and testing model to ensure clean
competition for equine athletes," said Tygart.
HISA will take effect on July 1, 2022.
The horse racing industry in the United States has been under
scrutiny in recent years due in part to growing concerns that
over-medication and doping were responsible for the breakdowns
and deaths of horses.
The Horses For Life Foundation, an advocacy and education group
dedicated to protecting horses, applauded the new law in a tweet
on Sunday, calling it "a great day for horse protection in the
USA".
(Reporting by Frank Pingue in Toronto, editing by Ed Osmond)
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