Australian officials fear deadly sea snail venom being used as a painkiller

Racing officials in Australia suspect a deadly sea snail venom is being used as an illegal drug to ease pain in horses.

Integrity officials in New South Wales and Victoria have started screening for the mystery drug which has subtypes known to be stronger than morphine.

Stewards are acting on information that a form of the sea snail venom has been imported into Australia and used to manage pain in racehorses and harness racing horses.

The venom – which can paralyse fish within a second – is believed to dissolve very quickly from a horse’s system and helps to numb pain before going to the racetrack.

The suspected infiltration of the chemical into horseracing in Australia is the latest scourge of the industry which earlier this year was rocked by the ban to the country’s most prolific trainer Darren Weir for the possession of electrical shock devices.

Racing NSW chief executive Peter V'landys told the Sydney Morning Herald: "When we get information we act on it and we have a screen for this drug now.

"At the moment it is not a part of the normal screening process, but we have the ability to target it and test for it."

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