'Invisible War with Racehorse Doping' The Korea Racing Authority has passed the international proficiency test for the 28th consecutive year
Aug 08, 2024
|
There is a sport that has a history of doping tests ahead of the Olympic doping tests where the gold glory of the country is at stake. It's horse racing. Drugs have been used since the early 1900s to intentionally improve racehorses' performance in horse racing, which is not seen in the Olympics. The clever development of racehorse doping and the silent war of doping inspection agencies to prevent it continues to this day.
Recently, the Korea Racing Authority's doping inspection center has achieved 100% success in the international proficiency test for 28 consecutive years, announcing the high-quality doping test technology and fairness of Korean racing.
The Olympic doping test was first introduced in Grenoble, France in 1968, but the start of the racehorse doping test is 57 years earlier. In the early 1900s, cases of suspected match-fixing through drugs occurred, such as administering hallucinogenic substances such as opium to improve the ability of racehorses.
At that time, the horses who abused drugs could not calm down their excitement even after the race, and showed abnormal reactions, such as hitting their heads against the wall and collapsing. Therefore, it was the beginning of the racehorse doping test that Dr. Frankel of Austria first began drug testing on racehorses in 1911.
South Korea began doping tests on racehorses in 1976. The Korea Racing Authority is analyzing the presence of banned substances in horse blood before the start of each race and in blood and urine after the race for fair racing. The Korea Racing Authority, which has about 20 experts in doping tests, conducts about 34,000 tests every year without any error and is responsible for ensuring fairness in Korean racing.
The system of the Korea Racing Authority's doping inspection center is internationally recognized. The doping inspection center, which passed the ISO Korea Certification Organization's (KOLAS) re-evaluation of an international accredited testing agency in 2023, has maintained its status as an ISO 17025 international accredited testing agency since its initial recognition in 2001. This is the result of constant efforts that can be achieved only by securing and maintaining excellent quality in all fields, including manpower, equipment, technology, facilities, environment, and quality systems.
The results of these efforts were also evident in the international proficiency test. The Korea Racing Authority's doping inspection center participated in the 「2024 Racehorse Doping Test」 organized by the International Association of Racing Chemists (AORC) and passed with 100% results. The International Skills Test is a high-level test that checks the proficiency of new drugs and detection techniques every year to cope with increasingly sophisticated doping methods. The doping agency has participated in the international proficiency test since 1997 and has continued to achieve a 100% accuracy rate for 28 consecutive years until this year.
The International Race Federation (IFHA) recognizes the need for standardized doping test technology and is implementing an IFHA standard testing agency certification system as racehorse doping methods gradually develop. Currently, six inspection agencies around the world have obtained the certification, and the Korea Racing Authority's doping inspection center is stepping up efforts to obtain certification in 2029.
Yoo Jun-dong, head of the doping inspection center of the Korea Racing Authority, said, "Korea's doping inspection technology has reached a world-renowned level, including the operation of an international accredited testing agency and 100% acceptance of the international proficiency test. We will not stay at this level, but work harder to obtain certification as an IFHA standard testing agency in 2029.", he expressed his ambition.
wman@sportschosun.com
