Matters were on the boil for a long time, with the Bangalore Turf Club not acting on its assurances. More often than, even demands, which looked reasonable, have also not been conceded because the authorities were not able to carry the other clubs along. The Turf Authorities of India had made its stand clear that there need be no common rules and that each club was free to form its own rules. Royal Western India Turf Club has a different set of rules as compared to the ones in operation in Bangalore and the Karnataka Trainers Association want the RWITC Calendar notification to be accepted in toto because they feel that these rules are in tune with the ground realities and it takes into account various inputs from several agencies including veterinary toxicologists.
Listing the chronology of events that led to the breakdown and culmination in the strike, KTA President Puttanna told newsmen that the association had made several representations to the BTC to amend the draconian Medication Rules and to bring it on par with that of the international rules or at least on par with the rules that are in force in India’s premier racing center RWITC. ``With the advancement of technology, the racing analysts are able to detect substances at very minute levels. Most of the positives are in nanograms, which are one part to a billionth of the one-ml of urine. In these complex enquiries, no facility of a spokesman too has been given. Samples which have tested positive in Bangalore in the last four years, are that of therapeutic substances and environmental contaminants and not for dope.’’
The biggest bone of contention has been that of permitting suspended trainers to come inside the racecourse after the track work. Presently, the trainers are treated as warned off persons when they are suspended for breach of medication rules. The second important point is implementing reporting levels and permitting spokesman during enquiries. Curiously, a committee appointed by the Turf Authorities of India consisting of senior veterinary officers of various turf clubs, the most technically qualified racing personnel in India to recommend on veterinary matters, recommended reporting levels for six commonly used therapeutic substances but the same was rejected barring RWITC.
In the meanwhile, Bangalore Turf Club has postponed the scratching for weekend races to 1 p.m. in the hope that some settlement will come about. The BTC has informed the KTA that the first three offenses in Category V and the first two in Category IV will only be fines and reporting levels will only be considered at the Paris Convention next month. The BTC has also clarified that under no circumstance; suspended trainer will be permitted inside during the term of suspension.
The stage looks set for a battle of attrition.
