Columbus, OH – Following is a statement from U.S. Trotting Association President Russell Williams on Thursday’s (Dec. 23) announcement from the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) regarding their failure to reach an agreement with the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority to serve as the enforcement agency for the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA).

USTA President Russell Williams. USTA/Mark Hall photo.

Today’s announcement that the United States Anti-Doping Agency has ended talks to become the enforcement agency under the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act could spell disaster for HISA’s implementation. The Act mandates an effective date for Thoroughbred racing of July 1, 2022, barely six months from now. Despite being almost a decade in the making, and having been signed into law a year ago, HISA remains at a standstill. Even though the state racing commissions submitted detailed budget information almost a year ago, the industry is still without a clue about HISA’s cost or funding.

Like the state racing commissions, USADA is dedicated to scientific research as the foundation of its mission. (https://www.usada.org/about/science/research/). Science must therefore be the basis for deterring the use of performance-enhancing drugs in racing, just as in the other sports that USADA helps regulate. In sharp contrast, HISA is dedicated to optics instead of science.

“I have no doubt,” said USTA President Russell Williams, “that this conflict was part of the basis for USADA’s lament that it could not reach an agreement with the HISA Authority ‘to implement the program, without compromising our values.’”

Congress specifically commanded the HISA Authority to “seek to enter into an agreement with [USADA.]” The Authority has failed to do so, and now must enter into an agreement with “an entity that is nationally recognized as being a medication regulation agency equal in qualification to [USADA].” No such entity exists. What does exist, however, is a network of state testing and enforcement agencies that are already carrying out the purposes of the Act. Congress should repeal HISA, now under constitutional attack in two federal lawsuits, and pass the Racehorse Health and Safety Act (RHSA), legislation developed by veterinarians, the USTA, and Thoroughbred horsemen.

HISA is doomed to fail, whether in court or in its implementation. We can and must do better.

(Editor’s Note – To read Thursday’s announcement from USADA, click here.)