Medication and Drugs

As of January 2023

1. Drug Control Regulation

The JRA defines drugs or medicines that temporarily stimulate or depress race performance as 'prohibited drugs' and drugs or medicines that is restricted from the standpoint of horse welfare and injury prevention as 'restricted drugs', and prohibits horses under the influence of drugs designated as such from running. Besides those prescribed in these regulations, all matters concerning the control of drug administration to racehorses shall be prescribed by the JRA Veterinary Officer. If you wish to seek treatment after coming to Japan, consult the JRA veterinarian in charge.

A) PROHIBITED DRUGS

  1. a)Prohibited drugs (listed on the following page) are defined in Article 132(1) of the Horse Racing Enforcement Regulations as "drugs which temporarily stimulate or depress race performance". In the event the prohibited drugs (except for anabolic steroids) are administered to a horse, the horse concerned cannot race for a period of 10 days. However, if the prohibited drugs such as Detomidine (40) and Medetomidine (80) are administered, the horse concerned cannot race for a period of 5 days.
  2. b)At any time, the use of anabolic steroids is not permitted.
  3. c)The use of any unlisted drugs with the purpose of, or lead to temporarily stimulating or depressing race performance is prohibited.

LIST OF PROHIBITED DRUGS

(As of January 2023)

  1. 1.Acepromazine
  2. 2.Adrafinil
  3. 3.Aminophylline
  4. 4.Aminorex
  5. 5.Alprenoxime
  6. 6.Alprenolol
  7. 7.Amphetaminil
  8. 8.Amphetamine
  9. 9.Ibuterol
  10. 10.Ethanol
  11. 11.Ethylamphetamine
  12. 12.Ethylmorphine
  13. 13.Ephedrine
  14. 14.10-Oxocamphor
  15. 15.Oxprenolol
  16. 16.Caffeine
  17. 17.Carbamazepine
  18. 18.Camphor
  19. 19.Xylazine
  20. 20.Quinbolone
  21. 21.Clenbuterol
  22. 22.Clobenzorex
  23. 23.Chlorpromazine
  24. 24.Chlorpromazine-Sulfoxide
  25. 25.Cocaine
  26. 26.Codeine
  27. 27.Choline Theophylline
  28. 28.Salbutamol
  29. 29.Cyclazodone
  30. 30.Dimethylamphetamine
  31. 31.Dimorpholamine
  32. 32.Stanozolol
  33. 33.Strychnine
  34. 34.Selegiline
  35. 35.Theophylline
  36. 36.Theobromine
  37. 37.Dextroamphetamine
  38. 38.Dexmedetomidine
  39. 39.Testosterone
  40. 40.Detomidine
  41. 41.Deprenyl
  42. 42.Terbutaline
  43. 43.Tramadol
  44. 44.Trans-π-Oxocamphor
  45. 45.Trenbolone
  46. 46.Nandrolone
  47. 47.Nikethamide
  48. 48.Nicotine
  49. 49.Barbital
  50. 50.Barbiturates (e.g. Amobarbital, Allobarbital, Cyclobarbital, Secobarbital, Thiamylal, Thiopental, Phenobarbital, Primidone, Hexobarbital, Pentobarbital, Metharbital, and Mephobarbital)
  1. 51.Bambuterol
  2. 52.Pipradorol
  3. 53.Famprofazone
  4. 54.Fenethylline
  5. 55.Fencamine
  6. 56.Fenproporex
  7. 57.Furazabol
  8. 58.Fluoxymesterone
  9. 59.Brucine
  10. 60.Furfenorex
  11. 61.Prenylamine
  12. 62.Procaterol
  13. 63.Propyonylpromazine
  14. 64.Propranolol
  15. 65.Promazine
  16. 66.Betaxolol
  17. 67.Pemoline
  18. 68.Heroin
  19. 69.Benzphetamine
  20. 70.Benzodiazepine derivatives (e.g. Oxazolam, Clorazepate dipotassium, Chlordiazepoxide, Ketazolam, Diazepam, Demoxepam, Nordazepam, Halazepam, Pinazepam, Fosazepam, Prazepam, and Medazepam)
  21. 71.Pentazocine
  22. 72.Pentetrazol
  23. 73.Boldione
  24. 74.Boldenone
  25. 75.Mesocarb
  26. 76.Methamphetamine
  27. 77.Methylephedrine
  28. 78.17α-methylsteroids (e.g. Oxymetholone, Mestanolone, Metandienone, Methandriol, and Methyl-testosterone)
  29. 79.Methylphenidate
  30. 80.Medetomidine
  31. 81.Methenolone
  32. 82.Methoxyphenamine
  33. 83.Metoprolol
  34. 84.Mefenorex
  35. 85.Modafinil
  36. 86.Morphine
  37. 87.Lisdexamfetamine
  38. 88.Romifidine
  39. 89.

    Any other substance that contains or extricates any one of the above mentioned substances

B) RESTRICTED DRUGS

  1. a)Restricted drugs (listed on the following page) are defined in Article 132-2(1) of the Horse Racing Enforcement Regulations as "drugs to be restricted from the standpoint of horse welfare and injury prevention". The period during which a horse cannot be raced when administered restricted drugs are shown in below (list of race restriction period). Note that this includes drugs that may remain in the body for a long period of time, so care should be taken.
  2. b)The use of restricted drugs for which a restricted period is not indicated is not recommended. Please contact respective JRA Representative Offices for specific information.

LIST OF RESTRICTED DRUGS

(As of January 2023)

  1. 1Glucocorticosteroids (Cortisone, Dexamethasone, Triamcinolone, Triamcinolone Acetonide, Hydrocortisone, Fludrocortisone, Prednisolone, Betamethasone, Methylprednisolone, and other substances with similar chemical structure or similar biological effect(s) )
  2. 2Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (Aspirin, Acetaminophen, Acemetacin, Aminopyrine, Antipyrine, Ampiroxicam, Amfenac, Isopropylantipyrine, Ibuprofen, Indometacin, Ethenzamide, Etodolac, Etoricoxib, Epirizole, Emorfazone, Eltenac, Oxaprozin, Oxyphenbutazone, Carprofen, Glycyrrhizinate, Ketophenylbutazone, Ketoprofen, Ketorolac, Salicylamide, Sodium Salicylate, Methyl Salicylate, Zaltoprofen, Diclofenac, Dimetotiazine, Sulindac, Sulpyrine, Celecoxib, Tiaprofenic acid, Tiaramide, Tenoxicam, Tepoxalin, Deracoxib, Tolfenamic acid, Nabumetone, Naproxen, Valdecoxib, Piroxicam, Firocoxib, Phenacetin, Phenylbutazone, Felbinac, Bucolome, Pranoprofen, Flunixin, Flufenamic acid, Flurbiprofen, Proglumetacin, Vedaprofen, Meclofenamic acid, Mefenamic acid, Meloxicam, Mofezolac, Loxoprofen, Lornoxicam, Neurotropin, and other substances with similar chemical structure or similar biological effect(s))
  3. 3Anti-allergic drugs (cyproheptadine and mesapyrilene)
  4. 4Bronchodilators (ipratropium, oxyethyltheophylline, oxypropyltheophylline, dihydroxypropyltheophylline and noscapine)
  5. 5Gastroprokinetic agents (atropine and scopolamine)
  6. 6Local anaesthetics (dibucaine, tetracaine, procaine and lidocaine)
  7. 7Diuretics (furosemide)
  8. 8Skeletal muscle relaxants (guaifenesin and methocarbamol)

LIST OF RACE RESTRICTION PERIOD

(As of January 2023)

Restricted Drugs Race Restriction
Period (Days)
Dosage and administration on the basis of which the period is set
Atropine 3 1 milligram (mg) of atropine sulphate per horse four times a day by eye drops
Indomethacin 3 500 mg per horse, applied once daily for 3 days
Eltenac 14 0.5 mg per kilogram (kg) of body by weight intravenous adm. once daily for 5 days
Carprofen 15 0.7 mg per kg of body weight by intravenous adm.
Ketoprofen 5 2.2 mg per kg of body weight by intravenous adm. once daily for 5 days
10 2.2 mg per kg body weight by intramuscular adm.
Diclofenac 5 1 mg of diclofenac sodium per kg body weight by oral adm. once daily for 3 days
Dexamethasone 5 0.06 mg as dexamethasone sodium phosphate per kg body weight by intravenous adm.
8 0.05 mg per kg body weight by intramuscular adm.
Naproxen 30 10 mg per kg body weight by oral adm. once daily for 5 days
Filocoxib 30 0.1 mg per kg body weight by oral adm. once daily for 5 days
Phenylbutazone 10 8.8 mg per kg body weight by intravenous adm.
10 4.7 mg per kg body weight by oral adm. twice daily for 5 days
Flunixin 7 1.1 mg per kg body weight by intravenous adm.
Prednisolone 3 1 mg per kg body weight by oral adm.
Procaine 15 4.8 mg per kg body weight by intramuscular adm.
Betamethasone 5 0.06 mg per kg body weight by intravenous adm.
6 20 mg per horse by intramuscular adm.
5 Inhalation 4 mg per horse once daily for 5 days
Meloxicam 4 0.6 mg per kg body weight by intravenous adm.
4 0.6 mg per kg body weight by oral adm. once daily for 14 days
Lidocaine 5 60 mg of lidocaine hydrochloride per horse by subcutaneous adm.

 (Remarks)
1 The number of days of the restricted period shall be calculated from the date of use of the relevant restricted drugs.
2 The restricted period for restricted drugs not specified in this table and the restricted period for the use of restricted drugs listed in the left-hand column of the table other than in the dosage and administration listed in the right-hand column of the table shall be as directed by the Veterinary Officer.

2. Submission of Horse Medication Record

Please submit horse medication record to the respective JRA Representative Office, using the supplied official form, no less than five (5) days prior to the horse departure for Japan, including all medications administered to the horse within 30 days prior to the departure date. Upon arrival to Japan, please submit any update of any medication administered after submission of the first medication record.

3. Veterinary Instructions regarding medical treatment

  1. a)No medical treatment can be given to a horse from the day before the race.
  2. b)Prior consultation with the veterinary officer is necessary in case a drug or medication is to be administered to a horse scheduled to run.
  3. c)No one except the JRA Veterinary Officer can diagnose or give treatment to the horse.

4. Medication and Pharmaceutical Products Brought into Japan

  1. a)Medication and pharmaceutical products brought into Japan by persons involved with scheduled runners cannot be used at JRA premises. Therefore, any such products will be kept in the JRA’s custody until after the race.
  2. b)A variety of products such as hot and cold compress medications (poultice), shampoo, skin protection cream, hoof oil and other products for the horse’s care will be provided by the JRA. A list of these supplies is available at each JRA Representative Office. If you want to use products other than those provided by the JRA, you must declare this in advance and obtain permission.

5. Physico-Chemical Test

a) Pre-race testing

The pre-race testing will be held upon arrival in Japan. Both blood and urine samples will be taken for analysis. Should any prohibited and/or restricted drugs be detected, the JRA reserves the right to conduct additional testing. Further, even if the pre-race testing reported negative to any prohibited substances, this does not ensure that the horse will be reported negative in the post-race testing.

b) Post-race testing

Physico-chemical tests are conducted on horses that finish first through third in the race, and any horse designated by the stewards of the meeting, under the Rules of Racing of the JRA. The horses concerned must submit urine or/and blood sample after the race. The collected samples will be divided into A and B samples. If prohibited or restricted drugs are detected, the B specimen is examined at the same institute in the presence of a disinterested physico-chemical testing expert. If the presence of the same prohibited or restricted substances are detected in both samples A and B, it will be considered as a violation of the drugs regulations. If some prohibited drugs are detected, the horse concerned will be disqualified in accordance with Article 123 of the Regulations and suspended from running in a race for a fixed period of time in accordance with Article 140 of the Regulations. The connections of the horse will not be entitled to receive any prizes, or prize money. The horse connections concerned may be charged under Article 31 of the Horse Racing Law and will be penalized in accordance to Paragraphs 138 of the JRA Rules of Racing. If some restricted drugs are detected, the person involved in the race will be sanctioned in accordance with Article 147 of the Regulations.

[Reference]
Article 31 of the Horse Racing Law and Articles 132-136 of the Horse Racing Enforcement Regulations.
(https://japanracing.jp/en/horsemen/jra_rules/rules_racing.html#c9).
Matters to be instructed by Veterinary Officers regarding the control of the use of drugs and other prohibited activities on racehorses.
(https://japanracing.jp/en/horsemen/jra_rules/veterinary.html)