QRIC Substance control strategy
The Commission is committed to the development of improved detection methods for substances that may be used for doping purposes.
The QRIC substance control strategy aims to identify areas where the use of prohibited substances is a risk to the racing industry.
The way the Commission tests racing animals and when, relies on intelligence and research to avoid a predictable pattern that benefits those looking to abuse substances for doping purposes.
All racing participants including those who choose to break the rules will not have the benefit of knowing when they will be tested.
The ratio of pre-race, post-race, and out-of-competition testing may be adjusted without notice.
Racing participants have a responsibility to sustain the future of the racing industry and strengthened detection methods will hold them to account and assure the public that maintaining the highest integrity standards and racing animal care are paramount.
Prohibited substances definition
Changes to the Greyhound Australasia Rules became effective on 1 July, 2016. The Rules define a “prohibited substance” to mean a substance defined by the following criteria or which falls within any of the groups of substances declared herein unless it is an exempted substance:
(a) any substance capable of affecting a greyhound by its action on the central or peripheral nervous system or any part of that system such as the autonomic nervous system, cardiovascular system, respiratory system, alimentary digestive system, musculoskeletal system, genitourinary or endocrine system and includes without limitation analgesics, antihistamines, anti-inflammatory agents, blood coagulants, diuretics, hormones and their synthetic counterparts, stimulants, corticosteroids, anabolic steroids, local anesthetics, muscle relaxants and tranquillisers;
(b) any substance administered to disguise or make undetectable, or attempt to disguise or make undetectable, the administration of any of the substance(s) referred to in paragraph (a);
(c) a metabolite, isomer or artefact of any of the substance(s) referred to in paragraphs (a), (b) or
(e) irrespective of whether or not such metabolite, isomer or artefact has any pharmacological effect; (amended – 01.01.11)
(d) unusual or abnormal amounts of endogenous substance(s) including but not limited to cortisol and testosterone;
(e) any substance(s) specified in Schedules 1 to 9 inclusive of the Standard for the Uniform Scheduling of Drugs and Poisons (Commonwealth) as amended from time to time.
View the Greyhound Australasia Rules. The sections discussing prohibited substances commence at R78. Definitions of “Prohibited Substances” are found under GAR1.
Medicines and your greyhound
The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) has developed the following fact sheet as an aid for the greyhound industry in understanding what veterinary products require APVMA registration, how to find out if a product is APVMA registered, the risks and legalities around using unregistered veterinary chemical products and how to report non-compliance to the APVMA.