BILANG pagsunod sa itinatadhana ng International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA), sisimulan ng Philippine Racing Commission (Philracom) ang drug-testing protocols sa mga isasabak na kalahok sa final leg ng Triple Crown Series sa Linggo (Hulyo 30) sa Santa Ana Park.
“Drug-testing is a sign that we are already a world-class racing authority,” sambit ni Philracom's Executive Director Dr. Andrew Rovie Buencamino. “We will do the demo in Santa Ana in line with the Triple Crown because we want to drum it up, we really want the public to know that we are serious in this.”
Nauna nang isinagawa ang drug-testing sa pamamagitan ng pagkuha ng dugo ng mga kabayo noong 1994 sa pangangasiwa ni dating Philracom Chairman Antonio Lagdameo, ngunit natigil may 10 taon na ang nakalilipas matapos kwestyunin ng mga horseowner. Nitong 2016, nabawi na ang TRO (Temporay Restraining Order).
“Since the beginning of this year, we were already provided a budget to revive the equine drug testing. Established racing authorities in the world require equine drug testing. It's one of the protocols na kailangan signatory ka before you can be a full member of IFHA. This measure is not only to protect the integrity of racing and the interest of the bettors, but also to protect the health of the horses,” pahayag ni Buencamino.
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Iginiit niya na ang gagawing Philracom drug-testing ay dry run lamang sa loob ng anim na buwan.
“We are giving this drug testing six months na trial run in order to perfect and find the loopholes. We don't want to immediately impose it na hindi namin napapag-aralan nang maigi kung ano 'yung mga dapat naming gawin. Kaya we are also studying the protocols abroad, kasama ako, si Dr. Jojo Kambay, who is the head of our laboratory here,” aniya.
“The results of our tests will be confidential. During the six-month dry run, we won't impose penalties yet. Kasi hindi pa nga namin sigurado kung perfect na 'yung program. Maaring may chance na may mali pa kami.”
Kinuha ng Philracom bilang katuwang sa drug-testing ang US-based drug testing company Neogen. Lahat ng lalahok sa Triple Crown ay gagawan ng drug-test sa pamamagitan ng randomly.
Hahanapin ng Neogen ang mga ipinagbabawal na gamot tulad ng
Azaperone, Etorphine, Propanolol, Detomidine, Benzodiazapine, Flunittrazepam at Promazine.
“Ang pain reliever hindi pa namin binabawal. In some countries, there is a certain limit that is allowed, because they believe that, in a way, it is therapeutic. Pero in Hong Kong, where we patterned out procedure, there's a 10-day withdrawal period, so kailangan within that 10 days, zero 'yung presence ng pain relievers,” pahayag ni Buencamino.
“In America, they allow certain levels. Parang sa sa atin, 'yung mga basketball players, umiinom ng pain killers.
Here, we want to monitor, because we are also concerned of the health of the horses. Ayaw namin na tumatakbo sila na pilay na pilay.”
Iginiit ni Buencamino na nagkakaisa ang lahat na sangkot sa racing industry,kabilang ang horseowners at racing clubs sa naturang programa.
“The stakeholders especially the horseowners want to have this program. They are very cooperative and we want to get their feedback on what they see with the the process,” sambit ni Buencamino. “As for the racing clubs, nasa franchises nila that they should be providing drug-testing facilities. They want us to lead para they would also learn through the process to the point of eventually using our methodologies.”
“Ang hinihingi ko sa buong industriya, magtulungan tayo para dito. We would like to come to a point that we will have international competition if we have one, drug-testing and then two, our rating-based handicapping system. We want to get these in place para ma-recognize tayo abroad. Every year, we get invited to international conferences, to IFHA, and we always give a report on the condition of our industry, so this is a big development,” aniya.
