UK greyhound racing mired in ‘major drugs scandal’ over unlawful imports of human hormone for canine | EUROtoday

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A serious drug scandal in UK greyhound racing, involving the unlawful sale and widespread misuse of a hormone meant for girls goes unchecked, in line with an animal charity.

Rescuers of undesirable racing canine declare the trade is popping a blind eye to the unlawful importation of norethisterone – a drug meant solely for girls who wish to delay their interval – by vets and trainers, who’re doing so with out the required licences.

Data from the regulator suggests the drug is nearly invariably contaminated, in line with Greyhound Rescue Wales, which has reviewed disciplinary findings from the Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB).

The hormone is given to feminine greyhounds to suppress their organic “season”, when guidelines bar them from being raced for at the least three weeks and infrequently as much as 10 weeks.

However, some throughout the trade search to maintain the canine racing year-round to maximise earnings. While this observe will be authorized if prescribed by a vet, importing norethisterone – often from Southeast Asia – has turn into a less expensive and simpler possibility on account of a scarcity of reputable provides, in line with the charity.

Importing the drug, nonetheless, requires a licence.

The GBGB maintains that welfare is a prime precedence in licensed greyhound racing, with “everyone within the sport committed to optimising the care greyhounds receive”.

Greyhound racing has turn into more and more controversial lately. In December, New Zealand unveiled plans to ban the game on account of excessive canine damage charges.

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The Independent beforehand revealed that final 12 months noticed the primary enhance in greyhound deaths at UK racetracks since information started, prompting requires an outright ban.

The solely different nations the place greyhound racing stays authorized are the US, Australia, and Ireland, the place many British greyhounds are bred.

The Welsh authorities consulted on licensing or banning the game this 12 months (2024) and after contemplating greater than 1,000 responses has delayed a call till subsequent 12 months. In Scotland, a ban can be on the horizon, with MSP Mark Ruskell introducing a invoice to parliament within the spring.

The unlawful imports of norethisterone got here to gentle when contaminants had been detected in random trackside doping assessments performed by the GBGB. Greyhound Rescue Wales recognized over 30 UK instances this 12 months by which trainers had been disciplined after canine examined constructive for substances that had contaminated the drug.

The charity argues the information present “clear prima facie evidence of multiple serious criminal offences.”

In a letter to the federal government, seen by The IndependentGreyhound Rescue Wales warned: “Given the vast quantities of illegally imported norethisterone (in excess of 7,000 norethisterone 5mg tablets, based on available data but likely significantly more), we believe the habitual misuse of human prescription-only medication to administer to female greyhounds is very common practice among those involved in greyhound racing.”

The charity additionally claims that a big proportion of the UK’s 7,900 feminine racing canine might have been given norethisterone at any given time.

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Greyhound Rescue Wales has urged the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) to take motion, stating there’s “evidence of the widespread illegal importation and misuse” of the treatment.

It is looking for prosecutions, an investigation, and a crackdown on unlicensed prescribing. The charity has additionally warned of “significant environmental contamination via wastewater, which may have a detrimental impact on aquatic species downstream from kennels.”

Vet Sibylle Kuonen defined that suppressing feminine “heats” permits homeowners to deal with each men and women in the identical kennels. She added that trainers keep away from spaying the canine due to the post-operative care time and value concerned, and since spaying would scale back the canine’ worth.

“They’re giving birth-control pills to dogs so they can race – it’s mind-boggling,” she mentioned.

Greyhound Rescue Wales trustee Malcolm Eames famous that the GBGB assessments solely 2 per cent of runners, suggesting that solely a small proportion of canine given unlawful norethisterone have been detected. Records additionally confirmed eight male greyhounds had ingested norethisterone.

Most disciplinary hearings for such instances have resulted in fines of a number of hundred kilos.

Prof Eames mentioned: “Self-regulation effectively allows the greyhound industry in the UK to operate outside the law.”

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The GBGB said it had beforehand alerted the VMD, Border Force, and the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons to “concerning cases of unverified online retailers” promoting norethisterone for each human and canine use.

A spokesperson added: “In the small number of cases where we have found the use of unprescribed norethisterone within our sport, we have taken full disciplinary action against licence-holders and made clear that this ill-advised, naïve, and reckless behaviour will not be tolerated.

“But it is for the relevant agencies and authorities – with whom we have engaged fully – to pursue the appropriate action to address the wider challenges around imports and medicines verification.”

A spokesperson for the VMD mentioned: “If anyone has evidence or information on the illegal use of veterinary medicines, we urge them to report this and we will always take appropriate action.”

A coalition of animal welfare organisations, together with Dogs Trust, Blue Cross, and the RSPCA, has referred to as for a UK-wide ban on greyhound racing.