As of January 2026
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 are 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 Horses shall be prescribed by the JRA Veterinary Officer. If Connections wish to seek treatment after coming to Japan, consult the JRA Veterinarian in charge.
A) PROHIBITED DRUGS
- a)Prohibited drugs (A complete list is available via the QR code below) are defined in Article 132(1) of the JRA Rules of Racing 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 is restricted from racing for a period of 10 days. However, if the prohibited drugs such as Detomidine (159) and Medetomidine (315) are administered, the Horse concerned is restricted from racing for a period of 5 days.
- b)The use of anabolic steroids is strictly prohibited at all times.
- c)The use of any unlisted drugs with the purpose or effect of temporarily stimulating or depressing race performance is prohibited.
B) RESTRICTED DRUGS
- a)Restricted drugs are defined in Article 132-2(1) of the JRA Rules of Racing 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 on the next page (list of race restriction period). Connections should be aware that certain substances may remain in the body for an extended period.
- 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 RACE RESTRICTION PERIOD
(As of January 2026)
| 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 |
| Ipriflavone | 30 | - |
| Indomethacin | 3 | 500 mg per Horse, applied once daily for 3 days |
| Elcatonin | 30 | - |
| Eltenac | 14 | 0.5 mg per kg of body weight by intravenous adm. Once daily for 5 days. |
| Oxybuprocaine | 3 | 0.64 mg of oxybuprocaine hydrochloride per horse by eye drops |
| Oxymetazoline | 2 | 10 mg of oxymetazoline hydrochloride per Horse by inhalation |
| Olopatadine | 2 | 100 mg of olopatadine hydrochloride per Horse by oral adm. Once daily for 5 days |
| Carbazochrome | 3 | 100 mg of carbazochrome sodium sulfonate hydrate per Horse by intravenous adm. |
| Carprofen | 15 | 0.7 mg per kg of body weight by intravenous adm. |
| Chlorphenamine | 2 | 50 mg of d-chlorpheniramine maleate per Horse 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 of body weight by intramuscular adm. | |
| Salicylic acid | 2 | 5 g of sodium salicylate per Horse by intravenous adm. |
| 2 | 50 mg per Horse, applied | |
| Diclofenac | 5 | 1 mg of diclofenac sodium per kg of body weight by oral adm. once daily for 3 days. |
| 3 | 0.08 mg of diclofenac sodium per horse twice daily for 3 days by eye drops | |
| Cetirizine | 2 | 0.38 mg per kg of body weight by oral adm. twice daily for 4 days |
| Dantrorene | 4 | 500 mg per Horse by oral adm. once daily for 3 days |
| Tiludronic acid | 30 | - |
| 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. | |
| 3 | 0.08 mg per horse twice daily for 3 days by eye drops | |
| Dextromethorphan | 2 | 300 mg of dextromethorphan hydrobromide hydrate per Horse by oral adm. twice daily |
| Tranexamic acid | 10 | 10 g per Horse by intravenous adm. |
| Naproxen | 30 | 10 mg per kg of body weight by oral adm. once daily for 5 days |
| Filocoxib | 30 | 0.1 mg per kg of body weight by oral adm. once daily for 5 days |
| Phenylbutazone | 10 | 8.8 mg per kg of body weight by intravenous adm. |
| 10 | 4.7 mg per kg of body weight by oral adm. twice daily for 5 days | |
| Butylscopolamine | 4 | 0.3 mg per kg of body weight by intravenous adm. |
| Butorphanol | 5 | 0.1 mg per kg of body weight by intravenous adm. |
| Pridinol | 4 | 20 mg of pridinol mesilate per Horse by intravenous adm. |
| Flunixin | 7 | 1.1 mg per kg of body weight by intravenous adm. |
| Prednisolone | 3 | 1 mg per kg of body weight by oral adm. |
| Procaine | 15 | 4.8 mg per kg of body weight by intramuscular adm. |
| Betamethasone | 5 | 0.06 mg per kg of body weight by intravenous adm. |
| 6 | 20 mg per Horse by intramuscular adm. | |
| 5 | 4 mg per Horse once daily for 5 days by inhalation | |
| Mepivacaine | 5 | 40 mg per Horse by subcutaneous adm. |
| 8 | 400 mg of mepivacaine hydrochloride per Horse by intramuscular adm. | |
| 10 | 200 mg of mepivacaine hydrochloride per Horse by intraarticular adm. | |
| Meloxicam | 4 | 0.6 mg per kg of body weight by intravenous adm. |
| 4 | 0.6 mg per kg of 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 official form, no later than five (5) days prior to the Horse departure for Japan. This record must include all medications administered within 30 days prior to the departure date. After the initial submission, any further medications administered before arrival in Japan must be reported immediately upon arrival.
3. Veterinary Instructions regarding medical treatment
- a)No medical treatment may be administered to a Horse starting from the day before the race.
- b)Prior consultation with a JRA Veterinary Officer is mandatory if any drug or medication is to be administered to a Horse scheduled to run.
- c)Only JRA Veterinary Officers are permitted to diagnose or administer treatment to the Horse.
4. Medication and Pharmaceutical Products Brought into Japan
- a)Medication and pharmaceutical products brought into Japan by Connections cannot be used within JRA premises. Such products will be held in JRA custody until after the race.
- b)The JRA provides a variety of products such as hot and cold compress medications (poultices), shampoos, skin protection creams, hoof oils and other products for the Horse’s care. A list of these supplies is available at each JRA Representative Office. Should Connections wish to use products other than those provided, Connections must declare this in advance and obtain official permission.
5. Physico-Chemical Test
a) Pre-race testing
The pre-race testing will be conducted 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. Please note that a negative result in pre-race testing does not guarantee a negative result in 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 samples after the race. The collected samples will be divided into Sample A and Sample B. 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 JRA Rules of Racing and suspended from running in a race for a fixed period of time in accordance with Article 140 of the JRA Rules of Racing. Connections will forfeit any prizes and prize money. Furthermore, responsible parties may be charged under Article 31 of the Horse Racing Law and will be penalized in accordance with Article 138 of the JRA Rules of Racing. If some restricted drugs are detected, Connections involved in the race will be sanctioned in accordance with Article 147 of the JRA Rules of Racing.
[Reference]
Article 31 of the Horse Racing Law and Articles 132-136 of the JRA Rules of Racing.
(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)
