WASHINGTON, DC—MAY 29, 2015—United States Rep. Paul Tonko (D-New York) said today (May 29) he will introduce federal legislation that will grant the United States Anti-Doping Agency oversight of equine medication and drug testing.

The Jockey Club, which supports the effort, has said that a bill could be introduced this year. On a conference call today Rep. Tonko said he plans to introduce the bill, that he says has bi-partisan support from other members of Congress, in a few weeks.

The bill, called the Thoroughbred Horse Anti-Doping Act of 2015, would put USADA in charge of rule-making, testing, enforcement, and oversight, Tonko said.

"There would not be an ongoing role for the federal government," Tonko says should the measure pass.

USADA apparently would determine which medications, if any, can be used in racehorses on race day, including the commonly used anti-bleeding drug furosemide, also called Salix or Lasix. Horsemen's groups across the country vehemently oppose any efforts to ban furosemide on race day.

Tonko, a Democrat, said "promulgation of rules, regulations, and standards would be granted to the THADO, which will consult with "interested parties" when it comes to making policy that impacts the horse racing industry. There would be an 11-member board, five members of which would come from the racing industry.

The bill, when introduced, will have an effective date of Jan. 1, 2017.

Tonko said that along with The Jockey Club, other organizations that support the effort are Breeders' Cup, the Water Hay Oats Alliance, and the Humane Society of the United States. The lawmaker said he expects other groups to sign on in the future.

The bill wouldn't modify the Interstate Horseracing Act of 1978, which governs interstate simulcasts and advance deposit wagering. It would, however, force any facilities that accept interstate simulcasts on horse races to comply with THADO policy. It also states that THADO "would have the same investigatory powers state racing commissions have in their states on anti-doping matters."

Tonko said there would be no federal funding of the initiative. Instead, initial funding would come from loans and donations. Long-term funding, however, would come from all racing states whose racing commissions would be notified of an estimated amount per starter that would be charged in each state to support the THADO program.