Doping Test for Racehorses in Japan

Abstract

The doping test method used in a horserace requires the accurate detection of a wide variety of drugs and metabolites as well as the rapidity in order to examine a large number of samples within a limited time. For this purpose, the routine method consists of a preliminary screening and a confirmatory test. In this paper, a historical review for the development of the doping test method in Japan is described. The metabolism and pharrnacology of drugs in horses are also discussed.