Increased animal welfare powers for Stewards, expanded drug testing facilities and a ban on Anabolic Androgenic Steroids will come into force for Victorian greyhound racing on 1 June 2016.

Under the new Greyhound Australasia (GA) Rules, authorised persons such as Stewards will have the power to prohibit a greyhound from competing if it is severely distressed, suffering from nervous system or vision conditions, has collapsed or would collapse if not supported by the handler or has suffered a seizure.

The new GA rules also expand the list of laboratories accredited by all controlling bodies, allowing participants to have the reserve urine and control portions of a sample analysed by an independent accredited laboratory if an initial test has shown the presence of a prohibited substance.

Under another new GA Rule, Anabolic Androgenic Steroids (AAS) are now a Permanently Banned Prohibited Substance, aligning with bans on AAS in horse racing and other sports. The exempted substance “ethyloestrenol” will still be permitted as an oestrus suppressant for female greyhounds.
More information is available at: http://bit.ly/20Eysh3

New Local Rules covering re-homing, euthanasia, approved lures and other issues will also be introduced shortly with GRV to make a more detailed announcement in the near future.
To download the updated National Rules, visit: http://greyhoundcare.grv.org.au/rules-of-racing/