Caption: ‘This is a timely reminder for all greyhound racing participants about the use of products containing arsenic, which is a prohibited substance.’
Recently, Queensland Racing Integrity Commission (QRIC) stewards have found an increasing number of positive arsenic swabs from racing greyhounds.
This is a timely reminder for all greyhound racing participants about the use of products containing arsenic which is a prohibited substance.
What is arsenic?
Arsenic is a metalloid substance found in the environment in trace quantities. It is found in in-organic forms (soil, sea water) and organic (supplement) forms.
About the arsenic threshold
GAR140(g) sets the arsenic threshold at 800ng/ml.
Arsenic at or below a mass concentration of 800ng/ml in a sample of urine taken from a racing greyhound will not be in breach of prohibited substance rules.
Practices and substances that may be in breach of the arsenic threshold
- Injectable Supplements:
Injectable supplements should be avoided close to racing. These include:
- Ferrocyl (sodium cacodylate)
- Jurocyl (sodium arsanilate)
- TROY invigorate (sodium arsanilate)
- Jurox ARCYL (sodium arsanilate)
- Seaweed/kelp-based supplements:
Some seaweed-based animal nutritional supplements have been tested and found to contain high concentrations of arsenic. Participants who choose to administer these products do so at their own risk and should avoid feeding these supplements close to racing.
- Sardines/pilchards:
Whilst not scientifically proven, sardines and other seafood may potentially lead to a breach in the threshold. Seafood can be a major source of arsenic due to contamination of sea water.
Participants should be aware of the risk associated with feeding these products and should avoid feeding seafood within 48 hours of racing.
- Copper Chrome Arsenate (CCA) treated timber:
CCA is a wood preservative used to treat timber against rot and pests. Wood freshly treated with CCA has a greenish tinge that fades over time. Licking or chewing of kennel or yard items with treated timber has been implicated in arsenic threshold breaches.
Whilst not scientifically proven, participants should be mindful of CCA wood preservative and remove sources of potential contamination from kennels and yards.
Bore water:
Although mains water quality is monitored for the presence of arsenic, bore water may contain higher levels of heavy metals and should be tested.
Learn more
For more information about QRIC’s Substance Control Strategy, visit the QRIC website.
Reminder: QRIC Social Media Guidelines
A reminder to all participants that your social media posts are bound by the Rules of Racing and you may be penalised for publishing content online that is disparaging of the sport or its participants, or brings the greyhound racing industry into disrepute.
If you have any questions about compliance with the Rules of Racing, you can contact greyhoundstewards@qric.qld.gov.au or speak to stewards at the track.
Thank you for your ongoing compliance.
