During the first two sessions of the 2008 Keeneland September yearling sale the Central Kentucky auction company reported 20 requests for testing for exogenous anabolic steroids.
There were six requests during the opening session Sept. 8 and 14 during the second session Sept. 9, according to keeneland director of sales Geoffrey Russell.
The number of steroid test requests did not surprise Russell. “As far as the number of tests, I did not have any fixed number in my mind. This is an option for the buyers to avail themselves.”
According to Keeneland’s conditions of sale, a weanling or yearling can not have received any exogenous anabolic steroids within 45 days of the date of sale.
Buyers can choose to have their purchases tested for exogenous anabolic steroids by checking a box on the sale receipt. The cost of the test is $500. Test results are expected within 10 days from date of sale. If a test is returned positive, buyers must notify Keeneland within 24 hours of receiving the result of their intention to return their purchase.
Due to the large catalog and the number of horses that will pass through the sales ring, Keeneland will send the blood samples to the lab for testing based on sales books.
Veterinarians from Hagyard Equine Medical Institute are overseeing the blood sampling.