Harness Racing Australia (HRA), in consultation with Equine Veterinarians Australia (EVA), has announced it will adopt the International Screening Limit for Clenbuterol, a bronchodilator drug, from 1 April 2023.
The new Screening Limit will be 0.1ng/ml of Clenbuterol in a competing horse’s urine. The decision has been approved and adopted by Harness Racing Victoria (HRV).
Clenbuterol is a bronchodilator that can be administered orally to treat bronchospasm in horses.
Applicable medications
Clenbuterol can be found in, but not limited to, the following products: AirwayGel, Claire Gel, Broncopulmin Powder, Ventipulmin Granules, Ventipulmin Injection, and products in combination with trimethoprim and sulfadiazine.
Detection times
The European Horserace Scientific Liaison Committee (EHSLC) has published clenbuterol detection time information, including both oral and nebulised administration. It indicates detection times as being 13 days for oral administration and six days for nebulised. This is a change on the 3-4 days (oral) and 2 days (nebulised), which was previously reported. Read more.
EVA’s notes
“It is important to note that a withdrawal (or withholding) period is not the same as a detection period. Any withdrawal period should be calculated based on the published detection time, with the addition of a suitable safety margin based on the circumstances of the administration, including dose, route of administration, and preparation administered.”
“It should also be noted that none of the veterinary preparations containing clenbuterol registered for use in Australia are registered for administration by nebulisation. Such administration would therefore represent off-label use of these products.”