Comparative Table from Metric to Imperial Distances
200	meters =	1 furlong
1000	meters =	5 furlong
1200	meters =	6 furlong
1400	meters =	7 furlong
1600	meters =	1 mile
1700	meters =	1 mile, ½ furlong
1800	meters =	1 mile, 1 furlong
2000	meters =	1 ¼ miles
2200	meters =	1 mile, 3 furlongs
2400	meters =	1 ½ miles
2600	meters =	1 mile, 5 furlongs
3000	meters =	1 mile, 7 furlongs
3200	meters =	2 miles
3600	meters =	2 ¼ miles
4000	meters =	2 ½ miles
4800	meters =	3 miles

Fully signatory - agreed by:
AUSTRIA	BAHRAIN	BELGIUM	CANADA
CHILE	CYPRUS	CZECH REPUBLIC	DENMARK
GERMANY	GREECE	HUNGARY	INDIA
ITALY	JAPAN	KOREA	MACAU SAR, CHINA
MALAYSIA	MAURITIUS	NETHERLANDS	NEW ZEALAND
NORWAY	OMAN	PERU	POLAND
QATAR	ROUMANIA	SAUDI ARABIA	SINGAPORE
SPAIN	SWITZERLAND	TURKEY	UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA	URUGUAY	VENEZUELA
Partial signatory - by:
AUSTRALIA	BRAZIL only Kg	IRAN we merely use kg as measurement and weights
Not a signatory - by:
HONG KONG SAR, CHINA	PHILIPPINES Not completely in compliance but will adapt into the racing rules and regulations towards implementation

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PLEASE NOTE: WITH EFFECT FROM 1ST JANUARY 2015, PASSPORT ENDORSEMENT IS NO LONGER

AN OPTION FOR THE RECORDING OF TEMPORARY MOVEMENTS .

To facilitate international movements of registered horses, it is essential to record and monitor on a permanent basis their movements worldwide. This requirement for traceability covers the whole of the journey (including any stop over for quarantine purposes). Clearance notification, and/or export certificates must be documented accordingly.

There are two regimes covering the management of such horse movements:

• •Temporary exportation (see 3A, 3B and 3C)

This is when the horse travels and returns to its country of departure within the given limits of time and itinerary indicated on the clearance notification.
With the prior agreement of the receiving authority, extension may be granted at the discretion of the issuing authority, to cope with exceptional circumstances.

• •Permanent exportation (See 3D)

If the horse is being permanently imported for racing purposes and the importing Authority wishes to receive "Clearance" or related racing information on the horse, it should contact the Racing Authority of the country from which the horse was exported.

Fully signatory - agreed by:
ARGENTINA	AUSTRALIA	AUSTRIA	BAHRAIN
BELGIUM	BRAZIL	CYPRUS	CZECH REPUBLIC
DENMARK	FRANCE	GERMANY	GREAT BRITAIN
GREECE	HONG KONG SAR, CHINA	INDIA	IRELAND
ITALY	LIBYA	LITHUANIA	MACAU SAR, CHINA
MALAYSIA	MOROCCO	NETHERLANDS	NEW ZEALAND
NORWAY	OMAN	PANAMA	PERU
POLAND	QATAR	SERBIA	SINGAPORE
SLOVAKIA	SPAIN	SWEDEN	TUNISIA
TURKEY	UNITED ARAB EMIRATES	UNITED STATES OF AMERICA	URUGUAY
Partial signatory - by:
Not a signatory - by:
SOUTH AFRICA (restrictive export protocols in place)

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Temporary Exportation
Article 3 A (RACING) – CLEARANCES IN RELATION TO HORSES RACING ABROAD.

ALL TEMPORARY RACING MOVEMENTS MUST BE COVERED BY A RCN.

I – GENERAL

Any trainer running a horse in a race abroad must ensure that the Racing Authority of the Country staging the race is in receipt of an internationally agreed clearance notification which will attest, to the best of the knowledge of its Home Authority as defined hereunder, that :
a) the horse is free of restrictions
b) the trainer is duly licensed
c) the owner is duly registered.

It is recognised that (a) different interpretations apply internationally to where a racehorse is 'based' and (b) the Rules of some Racing Authorities allow for a trainer to be licensed simultaneously in more than one jurisdiction. For the purpose of this Article, therefore, the 'Home Authority' is defined in relation to the horse. The horse's Home Authority is the Racing Authority of the country in which (a) the horse was recorded as being in training immediately prior to its departure to race in another racing jurisdiction and (b) where it was foaled or, if exported, where its Export Certificate should be lodged.

Should the horse, trainer or owner be the subject of a restriction, the Home Authority will notify the Staging Authority and the trainer of the horse of the details.

Each country must submit for publication on the IFHA website [www.ifhaonline.org], the following information:

1. The particular 'restrictions' of which they take account
2. Contact details for lodging an RCN
3. Details of the final declaration stage in that country
4. Opening days and times of the Racing Authority's office (GMT+/-)

RCN Requirements for certain countries may be found at www.ifhaonline.org/resources/rcns_september_2017.pdf

Should a Staging Authority wish for information additional to that covered by the Home Authority's RCN, they should make enquiry of the Home Authority.

II – PRACTICAL

1. When the horse is to run abroad on just one occasion before returning to its Home Authority:

1.1 The trainer must request, on every such occasion, the horse's Home Authority to send a RCN to the Staging Authority.

2. When the horse is to run more than once abroad in a single specified country before returning directly to its Home Authority:

2.1 The trainer must request, prior to the horse's first such race, the horse's Home Authority to send a RCN to the Staging Authority.

3. When the horse is to race in more than one country abroad before returning to its Home Authority:

3.1 In the case of the first such race, the procedure outlined under (1) above should be followed. Thereafter, whenever the horse races in a different country from that of its most recent race, the trainer must request the Staging Authority of the country in which it has most recently competed to send an RCN to the Staging Authority of the country in which it is to race next.

3.2 An RCN issued by a Staging Authority will not attest to the good standing of the owner or trainer, but will either attest to the fact that the horse remains free of restrictions, subsequent to its most recent race, or specify any such restriction. Should the horse be the subject of a restriction, the Staging Authority imposing that restriction will notify the Staging Authority to which the horse is due to travel of the details and will also notify the horse's Home Authority and the trainer of the horse of such details.

4. 4.1 The maximum period of validity for a racing clearance is 90 days. Should a horse remain outside the country of its Home Authority for a period of more than 90 days, its trainer must seek permission of its Home Authority for the continuation of this arrangement and check the local rules of racing. Should permission be granted, the Home Authority will issue a fresh clearance.

4.2 Where a horse has travelled to another country under a General Notification of Movement (see Article 3C) and the trainer has established temporary authorisation to train in that country, the Home Authority may issue RCN's in absentia within 90 days of the issuance of the GNM and provided the Export Certificate remains in the home country.

4.3 A clearance will become invalid should the trainer or owner of the horse change after issue, in which case a fresh clearance must be requested. The clearance will also become invalid as soon as the horse leaves the country of the Staging Authority.

4.4 Should a Staging Authority fail to receive a clearance in respect of a declared horse it may impose a fine and/or refuse to allow the horse to run in the race. If the horse is allowed to race without a clearance and irregularities subsequently emerge related to clearance then the horse may be liable to disqualification.

III – SPECIFIC

A) Racing Clearance Notification – (The model is shown as Appendix 1-A).

1.1 The portion of the RCN to be completed will depend on the circumstances of the horse's travel. In the event of any change in those circumstances, the trainer must contact the horse's Home Authority for a fresh RCN.

1.2 An RCN must be received by electronic means or in writing by the Staging Authority no later than the day prior to the deadline for declaration (i.e. the last positive action required by a trainer or his representative to run in the race).

1.3 Authorities should process applications to issue an RCN as close to the day prior to declaration as practicable, thereby minimising the gap between issuance and racing.Authorities may reject applications which they consider to have been submitted too far in advance of declaration.

1.4 RCNs can only be accepted at times when the receiving Racing Authority is open for business.

Fully signatory - agreed by:
BAHRAIN	BRAZIL	CHILE	CYPRUS
CZECH REPUBLIC	GERMANY	HONG KONG SAR, CHINA	IRELAND
ITALY	JAPAN	KOREA	MACAU SAR, CHINA
MAURITIUS	MOROCCO	NETHERLANDS	NEW ZEALAND
OMAN	PAKISTAN	PERU	POLAND
QATAR	ROUMANIA	SERBIA	SPAIN
TUNISIA	TURKEY	UNITED ARAB EMIRATES	URUGUAY
Partial signatory - by:
Not a signatory - by:
CANADA All international movement is considered permanent by the US Jockey Club and guided by Article 3D	UNITED STATES OF AMERICA All international movement is considered permanent by the US Jockey Club and guided by Article 3D

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Any owner sending a stallion or a mare abroad for breeding purposes must inform in advance the Approved Stud Book Authority of the country where the animal is standing at time of exportation, supplying the relevant details and requesting that this Stud Book Authority sends directly a Breeding Clearance Notification* (BCN) by electronic means or in writing to the Stud Book Authority of the country of final destination. Where requested by the country of final destination, the DNA certificate for the horse and, for pregnant mares, the DNA certificate(s) of the covering stallion(s) should be transmitted. A certified copy of the Clearance should be delivered to the applicant for insertion into the relevant passport.

• (*) the model of the BCN is shown as Appendix 1-D.

  Before returning, the owner of the horse should apply to the Approved Stud Book Authority of the country of temporary residence for a further Clearance to be supplied to the Stud Book Authority of the country of permanent residence providing the details as stated above;

The clearance is valid for:

• 1) one breeding season (9 months maximum)
• 2) one country of destination

Any subsequent international movement beyond that covered by the BCN requires an Export Certificate to be issued, by the Authority which issued the BCN, to the initial country of destination, for onward transmission to the country to which the horse has moved.

Any failure in the above detailed process could be detrimental to the breeding and or racing status of the breeding stock, including the relevant foals, and will therefore necessitate the transfer of the Export Certificate to guarantee the traceability of movements.

Fully signatory - agreed by:
ARGENTINA	BAHRAIN	BRAZIL	CYPRUS
CZECH REPUBLIC	GERMANY	HONG KONG SAR, CHINA	ITALY
JAPAN	KOREA	MAURITIUS	MOROCCO
NETHERLANDS	NEW ZEALAND	OMAN	PAKISTAN
PERU	POLAND	QATAR	ROUMANIA
SERBIA	SINGAPORE	SOUTH AFRICA	SPAIN
SWEDEN	TUNISIA	TURKEY	UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
URUGUAY
Partial signatory - by:
MACAU SAR, CHINA No breeding in Macau
Not a signatory - by:
CANADA All international movement is considered permanent by the US Jockey Club and guided by Article 3D	UNITED STATES OF AMERICA All international movement is considered permanent by the US Jockey Club and guided by Article 3D

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Fully signatory - agreed by:
ARGENTINA	AUSTRIA	BAHRAIN	BELGIUM
BRAZIL	CYPRUS	CZECH REPUBLIC	FRANCE
GERMANY	GREAT BRITAIN	GREECE	HUNGARY
INDIA	IRELAND	ITALY	JAPAN
MACAU SAR, CHINA	MAURITIUS	MOROCCO	NETHERLANDS
NEW ZEALAND	NORWAY	OMAN	PANAMA
PERU	POLAND	QATAR	ROUMANIA
SERBIA	SINGAPORE	SLOVAKIA	SOUTH AFRICA
SPAIN	SWEDEN	SWITZERLAND	TURKEY
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES	URUGUAY
Partial signatory - by:
LITHUANIA
Not a signatory - by:
CANADA All international movement is considered permanent by the US Jockey Club and guided by Article 3D. The Canadian Stud Book is maintained by the US Jockey Club	HONG KONG SAR, CHINA	UNITED STATES OF AMERICA All international movement is considered permanent by the US Jockey Club and guided by Article 3D.

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This is applicable only when a horse of whatever age, with the exception of foals under their dam, leaves its home country for a period of less than nine months and will return home inside that nine month period, the reason for travel being neither to race, nor to breed.

In this case, for each movement, the relevant Authority will, prior to departure, provide by electronic means or in writing a copy to its counterpart Authority in the country of final destination and issue to the applicant a GNM (see Appendix 1-E). On the horse's return, the relevant Authority from which the horse is returning will, on application, issue to the Applicant a GNM and provide by electronic means a copy to its counterpart in the horse's home country.

The notification is valid for one country of destination only. Any subsequent international movement beyond that covered by the GNM requires an Export Certificate to be issued, by the Authority which issued the GNM, to the initial country of destination, for onward transmission to the country to which the horse has moved.

Fully signatory - agreed by:
ARGENTINA	BAHRAIN	BRAZIL	CYPRUS
CZECH REPUBLIC	GERMANY	HONG KONG SAR, CHINA	ITALY
JAPAN	KOREA	MAURITIUS	MOROCCO
NETHERLANDS	NEW ZEALAND	OMAN	PANAMA
PERU	POLAND	QATAR	ROUMANIA
SERBIA	SINGAPORE	SOUTH AFRICA	SPAIN
SWEDEN	TUNISIA	TURKEY	UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
Partial signatory - by:
MACAU SAR, CHINA No breeding in Macau
Not a signatory - by:
CANADA All international movement is considered permanent by the US Jockey Club and guided by Article 3D	China	UNITED STATES OF AMERICA All international movement is considered permanent by the US Jockey Club and guided by Article 3D	URUGUAY

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Where the period of exportation is greater than the given limit shown on the Clearance Notification and/or the itinerary has been modified without consultation of relevant authorities and/or if there is no intention to return the horse to its departure country, or when the relevant Stud Book Authority regard all movements regardless of purpose or time frame as permanent, the Export Certificate must be sent by electronic means or in writing to the Approved Stud Book Authority of the country to which the horse has moved, together with the DNA certificate for the horse and, for pregnant mares, the DNA certificate(s) of the covering stallion(s) where requested by the country of final destination.

Importing Approved Stud Books cannot accept an Export Certificate issued by a Stud Book Authority that does not hold Approved status from the ISBC.

Should the Stud Book Authority of the country of destination not be approved, a Certified Copy should be sent and the original Certificate retained until requested for by an Approved Stud Book. The DNA certificate (or an integrated DNA profile) from the sample taken at registration must be appended to the Export Certificate.

Whenever possible, those operations must be fulfilled prior to the horse travelling.

Fully signatory - agreed by:
ARGENTINA	BAHRAIN	BRAZIL	CANADA
CHILE	CYPRUS	CZECH REPUBLIC	GERMANY
HONG KONG SAR, CHINA	ITALY	JAPAN	KOREA
MACAU SAR, CHINA	MAURITIUS	MOROCCO	NETHERLANDS
NEW ZEALAND	OMAN	PAKISTAN	PERU
POLAND	QATAR	ROUMANIA	SERBIA
SINGAPORE	SOUTH AFRICA	SPAIN	SWEDEN
TUNISIA	TURKEY	UNITED ARAB EMIRATES	UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
URUGUAY
Partial signatory - by:
Not a signatory - by:

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Racing Authorities will apply Rules aimed at preventing the re-issuance of horse names (See Article 14 III), thereby minimising the risk of confusion in racing administration and wagering.

However, in applying such Rules, the population of registered horse names against which newly applied-for horse names are checked is likely to be restricted to those issued by the Authority in question. (Exclusion of duplicates on a global level is likely to be considered impractical and unnecessarily restrictive).

This creates the possibility that a horse imported, either temporarily or permanently, will share its name with a horse already in the country to which it has travelled.

To prevent such duplication, the registered name of such an imported horse must have a suffix added to it, showing the country of foaling.
The suffix between brackets is taken from the International Code of Suffixes (Appendix 2) and constitutes part of the animal's registered name.

Fully signatory - agreed by:
ARGENTINA	AUSTRALIA The use of suffixes for racing was introduced into Australia in 2019	AUSTRIA	BAHRAIN
BELGIUM	BRAZIL	CHILE	China
CROATIA	CYPRUS	CZECH REPUBLIC	DENMARK
Ecuador	FRANCE	GERMANY	GREAT BRITAIN
GREECE	HONG KONG SAR, CHINA	HUNGARY	INDIA
IRELAND	ITALY	JAPAN	KENYA
KOREA	LIBYA	LITHUANIA	MACAU SAR, CHINA
MALAYSIA	MAURITIUS	MOROCCO	NETHERLANDS
NEW ZEALAND	NORWAY	OMAN	PANAMA
PERU	PHILIPPINES	POLAND	PORTUGAL
QATAR	ROUMANIA	RUSSIA	SAUDI ARABIA
SERBIA	SINGAPORE	SLOVAKIA	SLOVENIA
SOUTH AFRICA	SPAIN	SWEDEN	Syria
TUNISIA	TURKEY	UKRAINE	UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA	URUGUAY	VENEZUELA
Partial signatory - by:
Not a signatory - by:

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List of International Country Code Suffixes

Suffixes	Countries/Pays	Suffixes	Countries/Pays
ARG	Argentina – Argentine	LTU	Lithuania - Lituanie
AUS	Australia – Australie	LUX	Luxemburg – Luxembourg
AUT	Austria – Autriche	MAL	Malaysia – Malaisie
AZE	Azerbaijan - Azerbaïdjan	MDA	Moldavia - Moldavie
BAR	Barbados – La Barbade	MEX	Mexico - Mexique
BEL	Belgium – Belgique	MOR	Morocco - Maroc
BHR	Bahrain – Bahrein	NOR	Norway - Norvège
BIH	Bosnia & Herzegovina – Bosnie-Herzégovine	NZ	New Zealand - Nouvelle Zélande
BRZ	Brazil – Brésil	OM	Sultanate of Oman – Sultanat d’Oman
BUL	Bulgaria – Bulgarie	PAN	Panama
CAN	Canada	PER	Peru – Pérou
CHI	Chile – Chili	PHI	Philippines
CHN	China – Chine	POL	Poland – Pologne
COL	Colombia - Colombie	POR	Portugal
CRI	Costa Rica	PR	Puerto Rico – Porto Rico
CRO	Croatia – Croatie	PRY	Paraguay
CYP	Cyprus – Chypre	QA	Qatar
CZE	Czech Republic – République Tchèque	RHO	Rhodesia
DEN	Denmark – Danemark	RUM	Romania – Roumanie
DOM	Dominican Republic – Rép. Dominicaine	RU	Russia – Russie (up to and including 1921)
DZ	Algeria – Algérie	RUS	Russia – Russie (from 1992)
ECU	Ecuador – Equateur	SAF	South Africa – Afrique du Sud
FIN	Finland – Finlande	SLO	Slovak Republic (to 2006)
FR	France	SPA	Spain – Espagne
GB	Great Britain - Grande Bretagne	SRB	Serbia – Serbie
GDR	East Germany – RDA	SRH	Southern Rhodesia – Rhodésie du Sud
GEO	Georgia- Géorgie	SVK	Slovakia – Slovaquie
GER	Germany – Allemagne	SVN	Slovenia – Slovenie
GR	Greece – Grèce	SU	Soviet Union (1922 to 1991)
GTM	Guatemala	SWE	Sweden – Suede
HOL	The Netherlands - Pays Bas	SWI	Switzerland – Suisse
HUN	Hungary – Hongrie	SY	Syria - Syrie
IND	India – Inde	THA	Thailand – Thaïlande
IRE	Ireland – Irlande	TRI	Trinidad & Tobago
IRN	Iran	TUN	Tunisia – Tunisie
ISR	Israel	TUR	Turkey – Turquie
ITY	Italy – Italie	UAE	United Arab Emirates - Emirats Arabes Unis
JAM	Jamaica – Jamaïque	UKR	Ukraine
JPN	Japan – Japon	URU	Uruguay
KAZ	Kazakhstan	USA	United States of America - Etats Unis d’Amérique
KEN	Kenya	UZB	Uzbekistan - Ouzbékistan
KOR	Korea – Corée	VEN	Venezuela
KSA	Saudi Arabia - Arabie Saoudite	YUG	Yugoslavia – Yougoslavie
KWT	Kuwait – Koweit	ZIM	Zimbabwe
LEB	Lebanon – Liban

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1. International Notification of Past Performances
1.1 Upon request from a Racing Authority to whose jurisdiction any such horse has travelled, the Home Authority must provide its record of performances. This may be effected by providing on-line access to the information. To facilitate this, Racing Authorities may wish to include within their Rules a requirement on trainers to provide details of all foreign performances of horses in their care, both prior to entry into training with them and once in their care.
1.2 Each Racing Authority (the Home Authority) must maintain (or ensure it has unfettered access to) comprehensive and up-to-date records of the performances of all horses in training in its jurisdiction. These must include, as a minimum, all the information laid down in Appendix 3 and include foreign performances, whether from prior to entry into its jurisdiction, or from occasions on which the horse has travelled temporarily abroad to race. Where the name of a horse has been the subject of a change or changes, the records must indicate under which name the horse raced in each of its races.
1.3 A Staging Authority must also immediately inform the Home Authority of, and make public, any post-raceday demotion or promotion (for example, as a result of a finding of a prohibited substance) of a horse trained abroad.

2. Treatment of Past Performances in the Event of a Demotion or Disqualification
2.1 In the event that a horse is demoted or disqualified following a race, the past performance records of all horses in that race should reflect:
(i) The resultant amended placings of all horses in that race; and
(ii) The demotion or disqualification of the relevant horse.
2.2 Any horse which is the subject of an amended placing as a consequence of an occurrence which gave rise to the provisions of paragraph 2.1 above being implemented will, for the purposes of:
(a) subsequent race qualification;
(b) weight allocation; or
(c) any matter related to (a) or (b),
be treated according to its amended placing, provided that, until either:
(A) the period of appeal/review against the decision to demote or disqualify a
horse expires; or
(B) the Racing Authority determining an appeal/review against the decision to demote or disqualify a horse issues a ruling/decision confirming the demotion or disqualification of a horse referred to in (A) and the resultant re-distribution of any prize money,
the relevant horse’s amended finishing position shall be reflected in its past performance records and shall apply to that horse for purposes of race qualification, weight penalty allocation, etc.
As soon as practicable following confirmation or finalisation of the decision to demote or disqualify the aforementioned horse, the past performance records of all horses in the relevant race should reflect the resultant amended placings, including the demotion or disqualification of the relevant horse. The resultant amended placings will apply for purposes of subsequent race qualification, weight allocation, or other related matter of all horses the subject of any amended placing.

Fully signatory - agreed by:
ARGENTINA	AUSTRIA	BAHRAIN	BELGIUM
BRAZIL	CANADA	CHILE	CYPRUS
DENMARK	GERMANY	GREAT BRITAIN	GREECE
HONG KONG SAR, CHINA	INDIA	JAPAN	LEBANON
MALAYSIA	MOROCCO	NETHERLANDS	NORWAY
OMAN	PANAMA	PERU	PHILIPPINES
POLAND	SERBIA	SLOVAKIA	SPAIN
SWEDEN	SWITZERLAND	TUNISIA	TURKEY
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES	URUGUAY We have the information from the performance of races but not from training
Partial signatory - by:
SOUTH AFRICA A horse that is disqualified from a race for having a prohibited substance in its system retains its finishing position insofar as its records are concerned	UNITED STATES OF AMERICA §1: the U.S. only maintains race records in the official name of the horse. §2: racing jurisdictions in the U.S. make regulatory rulings affecting finishes publicly available but may not consistently provide formal notice to the home authority of such ruling	VIETNAM
Not a signatory - by:

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ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS

Race horses are prohibited from racing with any prohibited substance in their bodies.
Modification of the heritable genome of a Thoroughbred at any time of its life will disqualify such a horse being considered any longer as a Thoroughbred in racing or competition activities.
No race horse used for racing may be subjected to the prohibited practices specified in this article. Sick or injured race horses must be treated and/or rested as appropriate for their condition before returning to full training.

GENERAL PROVISIONS

All therapies for a horse involved in racing or race training (including rest periods) should be based upon a specific diagnosis, administered in the context of a valid and transparent owner-trainer-veterinarian relationship, and given in the interests of the horse's health and welfare. Following any therapy given to a race horse, a sufficient period should elapse prior to racing such that the therapy (i) is not capable of giving the horse an advantage or causing it to be disadvantaged contrary to the horse's inherent merits or (ii) is detrimental to its welfare.

No therapies should be administered on the day of the race to a horse without the authorization of the Horseracing Authority.

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Objective

1. The objective is to protect the integrity of horseracing and the welfare of the horse through controlling the use of substances capable of giving a horse an advantage or causing it to be disadvantaged in a race, contrary to the horse's inherent merits.

Sampling
2. To establish whether a prohibited substance is present, samples shall be taken from horses declared to race. Horseracing Authorities may also take samples at any time, according to their own rules. Sample means a sample from any part or in contact with any part of the horse.

3. Samples collected under a secure chain of custody shall be split, where practicable, into an A Sample and a B Sample. The A Sample shall be sent to a single laboratory for testing pursuant to the rules of the relevant Horseracing Authority. The A Sample shall be the sole sample used for primary analysis. Any split portion of the same sample, however named, should not be sent to a second laboratory for primary analysis without the knowledge and consent of that laboratory. The B Sample may be analysed for substances identified in the A Sample either automatically or at the option of the trainer, owner, or Horseracing Authority.

4. If a prohibited substance is identified in an official sample taken from a horse which is entered or has run in a race within one jurisdiction but which is trained in another, the Horseracing Authority where the horse is trained is to be informed and shall provide assistance when requested.

Sanctions

5. A horse shall be disqualified whenever the analysis of an official sample taken on race day demonstrates a positive finding for a prohibited substance as defined by the relevant Rules of Racing. The trainer of the horse shall be penalized except when he has discharged his responsibilities as described hereunder beyond reproach. In case of the demonstration of the presence of a substance as defined in Article 6 E – Clause 4, a horse shall as well be ineligible to race until a minimum of six months has elapsed after the positive finding and can only then be entered in a race after an official negative doping test.

6. Where a sample taken from a horse at any other time contains a prohibited substance, Horseracing Authorities may, according to their own rules, impose sanctions on the horse, trainer, owner, or other licensed persons.

The trainer's responsibilities
7. The trainer shall always be responsible for:

• • feeding, management, protection and security of the horses in his care
• • taking all reasonable precautions with the horses in his care to avoid their exposure to prohibited substances contrary to the relevant rules of the Horseracing Authority
• • keeping informed of the possible consequences of treatment given to his horses
• • keeping appropriate records of all veterinary procedures and medication treatments.

Raceday regulations
8. With the exception of veterinarians authorized by the Stewards or Horseracing Authority, nobody shall bring into the stables of a racecourse on a raceday either a prohibited substance or any means of administering such a substance.

9. After a horse has raced and before it is discharged from any requirements for postrace sampling, no treatment with prohibited substances shall be allowed without official permission.

Prohibited substances
10. The following are prohibited substances:

• • Substances capable at any time of causing an action or effect, or both an action and effect, within one or more of the following mammalian body systems:


• the nervous system
• the cardiovascular system
• the respiratory system
• the digestive system
• the urinary system
• the reproductive system
• the musculoskeletal system
• the blood system
• the immune system except for licensed vaccines against infectious agents
• the endocrine system.


• • Endocrine secretions and their synthetic counterparts
• • Masking agents
• • Oxygen carriers
• • Agents that are capable, at any time, of directly or indirectly causing an action or effect, or an action and effect on gene expression in any mammalian body. This includes but is not limited to gene editing agents with the capacity to alter genome sequences and/or the transcriptional, post-transcriptional or epigenetic regulation of gene expression.

11. A finding of a prohibited substance means a finding of the substance itself, a metabolite of the substance, an isomer of the substance, an isomer of a metabolite, or a pro-drug of the substance. The finding of any scientific indicator of administration or other exposure to a prohibited substance is also equivalent to the finding of the substance.

12. With the objective of helping trainers and their veterinary advisers, Horseracing Authorities may include in their own rules examples of prohibited and non prohibited substances.

13. With the objective of providing guidance to horseracing tribunals, Horseracing Authorities may produce a classification of prohibited substances.

Thresholds
14. International thresholds can only be adopted for:

• • substances endogenous to the horse
• • substances arising from plants traditionally grazed or harvested as equine feed

15. Thresholds shall be recommended by the Federation's Advisory Council on Equine Prohibited Substances and Practices, after consultation with the Association of Official Racing Chemists and the International Group of Specialist Racing Veterinarians, and approved by the Executive Council of IFHA.

16. Prohibited substances below the following thresholds are not actionable:

Threshold name	Threshold
Arsenic	• 0.3 microgram total arsenic per millilitre in urine, or • 0.015 microgram total arsenic per millilitre in plasma
Boldenone	• 0.015 microgram free and conjugated boldenone per millilitre in urine from male horses (other than geldings)
Carbon dioxide	• 36 millimoles available carbon dioxide per litre in plasma
Cobalt*	0.1 microgram total cobalt per millilitre in urine 0.025 microgram total cobalt (free and protein bound) per millilitre in plasma *Racing Authorities should provide an advisory regarding the use of cobalt containing supplements
Estranediol in male horses (other than geldings)	• 0.045 microgram free and glucuroconjugated 5α-estrane-3β, 17α-diol per millilitre in urine when, at the screening stage, the free and glucuroconjugated 5α-estrane-3β, 17α-diol exceeds the free and glucuroconjugated 5,10 estrene-3β,17α-diol in the urine
Hydrocortisone	• 1 microgram hydrocortisone per millilitre in urine
Methoxytyramine	• 4 micrograms free and conjugated 3-methoxytyramine per millilitre in urine
Salicylic acid	• 750 micrograms salicylic acid per millilitre in urine, or • 6.5 micrograms salicylic acid per millilitre in plasma
Testosterone	• 0.02 microgram free and conjugated testosterone per millilitre in urine from geldings when, at the screening stage, the free and conjugated testosterone exceeds five times the free and conjugated epi-testosterone, or • 100 picograms free testosterone per millilitre in plasma from geldings, fillies and mares (unless in foal), or • 0.055 microgram free and conjugated testosterone per millilitre in urine from fillies and mares (unless in foal)
Prednisolone	0.01 microgram free prednisolone per millilitre in urine

N.B.: The conjugated substance is the substance that can be liberated from conjugates.
Each threshold, including those for the same substance in urine and plasma, can be applied independently.
No determination and consideration of the specific gravity of a horse urine sample is required when comparing its concentration with a urinary threshold.

Thresholds are regulatory limits and the numerical values expressed above do not carry any implied precision (e.g., 0.3 is the same as 0.300). Whether a threshold has been exceeded or not in a sample is established solely from the concentration determined and the uncertainty of measurement associated with such determination.

17. Application of International Threshold Values to Out of Competition Testing (OOCT):

• • International threshold values for boldenone, estranediol, methoxytyramine and testosterone, are applicable to OOCT samples unless the requirements of Section 6E 6 are met.
• • International threshold values for Arsenic, Carbon dioxide, Cobalt, Hydrocortisone, Prednisolone, and Salicylic Acid are applicable to OOCT samples. However, they may not be actionable if a legitimate treatment is appropriately recorded.

18. For any finding of a prohibited substance, the Horseracing Authority may decide either itself or at the owner's or trainer's request to examine the horse further.

Laboratory service

19. The aim of signatory countries is that their laboratories should:

• • be accredited according to ISO/IEC 17025, General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories, and to the supplementary document ILAC-G7, Accreditation requirements and operating criteria for horseracing laboratories;
• • conform with the Guide for establishing the presence of prohibited substances (Part B of ILAC-G7);
• • meet the Performance specification of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (http://www.ifhaonline.org/Default.asp?section=IABRW&area=7);
• • take part in interlaboratory comparisons (clauses 3.3, 3.5, 7.2.2.1(e) and 7.7.2 of ISO/IEC 17025 : 2017);
• • control the detection of legitimate therapeutic substances through the application of harmonised international screening limits (ISLs) which have been recommended by the IFHA’s Advisory Council on Equine Prohibited Substances and Practices and selectively adopted by the relevant signatory countries (http://www.ifhaonline.org/default.asp?section=IABRW&area=1 and (http://www.ifhaonline.org/default.asp?section=IABRW&area=6)
• • control the detection of certain environmental substances through the application of harmonised international residue limits (IRLs) which have been recommended by the IFHA’s Advisory Council on Equine Prohibited Substances and Practices and selectively adopted by the relevant signatory countries (https://www.ifhaonline.org/default.asp?section=IABRW&area=18).

20. With the objective of preventing infringements due to therapeutic substances, Horseracing Authorities may at their discretion:

• • make available detection times
• • give forewarning of new or modified tests
• • provide an analytical service to establish whether a sample from a horse entered to race contains specified substances.

Fully signatory - agreed by:
ARGENTINA	AUSTRIA	BAHRAIN	BELGIUM
BRAZIL	CHILE	DENMARK	GERMANY
GREAT BRITAIN	GREECE	HONG KONG SAR, CHINA	INDIA
LEBANON	MALAYSIA	MOROCCO	NETHERLANDS
OMAN	PANAMA	PERU	POLAND
SAUDI ARABIA	SERBIA	SLOVAKIA	SOUTH AFRICA
SPAIN	SWEDEN	SWITZERLAND	TUNISIA
TURKEY	UNITED ARAB EMIRATES	URUGUAY	VENEZUELA
Partial signatory - by:
CANADA Prohibited substances and their allwoed levels are regulated federally by Agriculture Canada and individual racing jurisdictions	CYPRUS except para. 5	JAPAN 6A-5 Not all substances as defined in Article 6E will lead to six months prohibition from racing. 6A-10 Prohibited drug in horse racing is defined in the Japanese Penal Code and will be punishable if a breach is detected. Therefore, in the Horse Racing Law, only drugs which affect in enhancing racing performance are specified as prohibited drugs (different definition). 6A-16 Not all threshold substances mentioned in 6A-16 are covered in post-race sample analysis. 6A-17 Not all threshold substances mentioned in 6A-17 are covered in OOCT.	PHILIPPINES Not yet fully compliant but will adapt the changes and details into the racing rules and regulations towards implementation
Not a signatory - by:

Article is subject to a recent change and awaits ratification (April 2022)

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