Amlodipine, Ciclesonide and Methadone Prohibited

Summary#

These final regulations add three drugs to the list of substances that must not be present in race horses under the Pari-Mutuel Betting Supervision Regulations. The change came into force on October 22, 2020.

What it does#

• Adds the following drugs to the prohibited schedule used to police pari‑mutuel horse racing:
  • Amlodipine
  • Ciclesonide
  • Methadone
• Confirms the amendment took effect on the day it was registered: October 22, 2020.
• Keeps the same testing and enforcement approach: post‑race samples are used to check for prohibited substances.

Who's affected#

• Race horse owners, trainers and veterinarians who treat horses for medical issues.
• People who bet on horse races and the horse‑racing industry more broadly.
• Canadian Pari‑Mutuel Agency staff and the bodies that run testing and rule enforcement, including provincial racing commissions and the Equine Drug Control Program.
• Laboratories that test blood or urine for prohibited drugs.

Why it matters#

• It aims to protect the fairness of betting by stopping substances that could change a horse’s performance from being in a horse during a race.
• It also addresses animal welfare concerns, since some of these drugs could mask pain or let a horse race when it is unsafe to do so.
• The government says this change will not create significant new costs and will be enforced through the existing testing program.