Cobalt Threshold to Be Halved in Australia

Officials at Racing Australia announced Thursday that the current cobalt threshold in urine will be lowered from 200 micrograms per litre of urine to 100 mcg/L to align itself with all other major international racing jurisdictions. Additionally, Racing Australia will also introduce a new cobalt plasma threshold of 25 mcg/L. According to Racing Australia, plasma sampling is a more effective method of detecting cobalt levels, as plasma cobalt levels remain elevated longer than urine after high doses. The new levels take effect as of 1 September 2016.

Over the last several months, many high-profile Australian trainers have run afoul of the current limits, including Black Caviar's trainer Peter Moody, who decided to shutter his stable after being handed a six-month ban. Trainers Sam Kavanagh and Darren Smith are also serving suspensions, while Mark Kavanagh and Danny O'Brien are set to have cobalt-related appeals heard next month.

Officials at Racing Australia remind trainers:
• That a normal racing diet is more than sufficient to meet a horse's nutritional requirements for cobalt and vitamin B12.
• That registered injectable cobalt supplements offer no nutritional advantages because incorporation of cobalt into the vitamin B12 molecule occurs within the horse's gut.
• To consult with their veterinarians to ensure that their oral supplementation regimen provides only the amount of cobalt necessary to meet the scientifically established nutritional requirements of the horse for cobalt.
• To administer only nutritional supplements that are manufactured or marketed by reputable companies and to administer such supplements only at the manufacturer's recommended dose and frequency of administration.
• To avoid the simultaneous use of multiple supplements containing cobalt and vitamin B12.
• That administering products that are inadequately labelled, that make claims to enhance racing performance or to be 'undetectable', or which are marketed over the internet is extremely unwise.
• To comply with the one clear day restriction on the injection of any substance prior to racing.

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