A Government and racing industry working group will be set up to consider a national approach to researching and testing drugs in racing following a concerted push by Victoria at the Australasian Racing Minister’s Conference in Sydney today.
Victorian Racing Minister Rob Hulls said a joint working party would report back to Ministers next year on the most effective approach to drug research and related capital investment in the Australian racing industry.
Mr Hulls said Australia needed to ensure the nation's laboratories had access to equipment capable of addressing 21st century drug threats, while avoiding duplication of effort wherever possible.
“The importance of integrity assurance in the racing industry cannot be overstated,” Mr Hulls said. “We must ensure our protocols for drug testing and analysis are first rate so the racing industry and punters alike can be confident that drug cheats will be caught.
“Racing laboratories need to have a proactive program to gather information on new products and treatments which have the potential to be used to influence the performance of racing animals.”
Mr Hulls said Australia's four current state-based labs already worked cooperatively to an extent, but there was greater potential to share knowledge, expertise and resources to ensure the integrity of the nation's racing industry.
“A unified and co-ordinated approach between all Australian laboratories will provide further opportunities to develop specialist skills to become world leaders in drug testing and analysis,” he said.
Mr Hulls said further research must be supported to eliminate possible threats before they had a chance to gain a foothold in the Australian racing industry.
“As a nation we need to increase our research capabilities to address the rapid evolution in drug manufacture and treatment, in particular bioengineered and biological drugs, designer drugs and new dose forms, and genetic manipulation,” he said.
“It is also important that Australian drug laboratories are active participants in the world-wide research community.”
Mr Hulls said Victoria, as host of the internationally known Spring Racing Carnival, had a particular interest in maintaining Australia's reputation as a racing industry tough on drugs and at the forefront of drug detection.
“Victoria's racing industry is worth $2 billion annually in economic contribution to the State's economy,” Mr Hulls said.
“We need to ensure industry and public confidence in our world-class racing industry and further encourage international participation so it can continue to grow.”