Q&A: Steroid testing at Emerald Downs

Are steroids allowed at Emerald Downs?

Under new tests that began Sunday, a horse can have traces of four androgenic (referring to male hormones), anabolic (capable of building complex molecules from simple ones) steroids at "no-effect" levels. These substances are either used in treating animals or occur naturally.

For now, testing positive for any of those four steroids above the "no-effect" level will result in a warning or fine up to $100. Eventually, the penalty could include a fine up to $1,000, a 60-day suspension and a loss of winnings.

Other steroids in any amount are outlawed.

The four banned steroids, with allowable levels:

• Stanozolol (Winstrol): 1 nanogram (one billionth of a gram) per milliliter of urine for all horses regardless of sex.

• Boldenone (Equipoise): 15 ng/ml for stallions. No level permitted for geldings, fillies or mares.

• Nandrolone (Durabolin): 1 ng/ml for geldings, fillies and mares, 44 ng/ml for intact males.

• Testosterone: 20 ng/ml for geldings, 55 ng/ml for fillies and mares. Stallions are not tested for testosterone, which is naturally produced by them.

What is expected of the new tests?

"We don't think we're going to have that many positive tests," said Robert Lopez, deputy secretary of the Washington Horse Racing Commission, but a report will be made to the state body on Sept. 11 that will include the number of horses tested, the number of positive tests, the sex of the horses that tested positive and the level of steroids found.

How do you get a horse to pee in a cup?

"Horses are prone to urinate when you take them into their stall," said Sally Calkins, the state veterinarian who collects samples at Emerald Downs.

After horses are cooled down, watered and bathed — always in the presence of one of Calkins' assistants — they are led to one of the freshly bedded stalls in the test barn and turned loose, "and most horses will urinate right away for you." The assistants have a cup on a stick, which is held under the horse for the collection.

When horses are returned to their stalls other times, grooms whistle to condition the horses to urinate at once. So Calkins' assistants can whistle to move things along.

"So I could never be one since I can't whistle," said Calkins.

John B. Saul