The Hong Kong Jockey Club is a signatory to the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities’ International Screening Limits (ISL) which applies to the control of equine therapeutic substances.  The ISL for clenbuterol is 0.1 ng/ml.

At the race meeting held on 1 March 2020 the Stewards were notified by Dr E N M Ho, the Club’s Head of Racing Laboratory, that a pre-race urine sample taken from KA YING LEGEND at 4:26 am had been found to contain the prohibited substance clenbuterol at a level exceeding the ISL.  The Stewards subsequently acceded to a request from Mr T P Yung to withdraw KA YING LEGEND from the stated race.

In accordance with established practice a further urine sample was taken from KA YING LEGEND at 3:06 pm under the secure chain of custody conditions that apply to post-race testing.

Dr Ho has notified the Stewards that analysis of this second urine sample has detected clenbuterol to be present in the sample but at a level that did not exceed the ISL for that substance.  Accordingly, while both the sample taken at 4:26 am and the sample taken at 3:06 pm have detected clenbuterol as being present, the second sample is deemed to be negative.  Mr Yung has been advised of these findings.

Because Dr Ho has reported the urine sample taken under secure chain of custody conditions which apply to post-race testing to be negative for prohibited substances, no disciplinary action is required to be taken.

The Stewards are continuing to investigate how KA YING LEGEND came to be exposed to clenbuterol.  The evidence already taken by the Stewards has excluded the possibility of contamination during or after sample collection and it has been established that KA YING LEGEND was not being treated with any product containing clenbuterol during the relevant period.  Mr Yung has been advised that the Stewards will interview him regarding this matter after the investigation is completed and the source of the exposure is established.