This is an extract from the Royal NSW Canine Council "Show" Regulations - Part II - Section 24
24.1 A dog to which a prohibited drug has been administered ("a disqualified dog") shall not be exhibited at a Show.
24.2 It is a condition precedent to any dog being exhibited at a Show that, if required by the Veterinary Officer, the dog be swabbed at any time and from time to time during the Show.
24.3 Subject to 24.4, the cost of swabbing a dog will be met by the RNSWCC.
24.4 If the swab is found to be positive, the registered owner shall
(a) be liable to forthwith pay to the RNSWCC a minimum of $500.00, and
(b) be suspended from membership of the RNSWCC for a period of 6 months.
and any prize awarded to the dog at the Show shall be forfeited.
24.5 If an owner and/or handler refuses to have a dog swabbed the owner will be suspended for
12 months.
Information
The Regulation regarding the use of prohibited Drugs includes all functions held under the auspices of the RNSWCC and therefore includes Obedience Trials.
The illegitimate use of certain drugs in sport has come under the attention of many bodies and will continue to attract attention as we head towards the Olympic Games - Sydney 2000. Certainly, it is a well known fact that the bulk of anabolic steroids used in the human field are derived from the veterinary market.
In an endeavour to show that our sport is responsible and does not wish to compound the problems of availability of drugs in sport the RNSWCC Board of Directors requires that the appropriate Regulations be adopted.
Should the Board elect to test for drugs at an exhibition, it will notify the affiliate or appropriate Committee. Exhibits will be tested at random and under a strict legal protocol. The cost for such testing will be met by the RNSWCC.
Should an affiliate wish to investigate testing themselves we would advise that they are at liberty to do so but they will need to meet the costs of such testing. The affiliate should also ensure that the procedures are both scientifically and legally sound.
On legal advice, we are not publishing a list of drugs at this stage, that are considered prohibited. However drugs that would bring a guilty verdict for 'drug abuse in our sport' are, but NOT limited to, the following:
Amphetamines and derivatives
Cocaine
Caffeine
Anabolic steroids
Testosterone
Tranquillisers (eg Acetylpronazine, diazepan and its derivatives)
Drugs that will not affect performance of a dog and are required to maintain general health and well being including the prevention or treatment of internal parasites are considered safe and include (but not complete) the following:
Heartworm preventatives
Intestinal wormers
Vitamins
Amino Acids
Antimicrobial drugs
Anti inflammatories
The RNSWCC does not have a panel of Veterinary Surgeons but would nominate them as required for our needs. Dr R Zammit has tested animals for the RNSWCC which are subject to temperament testing and he has also tested animals at a Show. However, any registered Veterinary Surgeon can be utilised for this purpose.
This information was published in the May 2000 Canine Journal on Page 3 of the Gazette section, and is re-printed here for your information.
