Time for Turf Club to stop dragging its heels on doping threat

The sooner we get a look at the anti-doping task force's delayed six-month update on its February report's recommendations, the better. Issues relating to performance-enhancing substances in Irish racing have not gone away. Quite the contrary.

In short, the Turf Club's lack of a test for elevated TCO2 levels is inexcusable. Alkalinisation, more commonly known as milkshaking, has been around for 30 years, and its threat is two-fold. Sodium bicarbonate loading has the effect of neutralising lactic acid, so a horse who has been administered an alkalising agent will be at an unfair advantage.

Because it can delay the onset of fatigue, its benefits are reaped to best effect over middle to long-range distances, a range at which Irish horses excel. That is why there is no room for complacency.