As racing tries to unravel its messy drug saga, the laboratory at the centre of it has been one talking point.
The saga involves five Victoria trainers who have already paid a huge price for Formestane being found in their horses. Guilty verdicts, fines and lawyers fees. Not to mention the anguish that comes with the process being drawn out over years.
Scores more now face the same fate. The trainers say they faced accusations they may have cheated, something Racing Victoria rejects. Their CEO, Aaron Morrison, is on the record in his belief the trainers did nothing wrong.
But the punishments remain.
One constant source of speculation is the lab who does all the testing, Racing Analytical Services Limited. They are part owned by Racing Victoria.
Could their testing or facilities be a reason why there is suddenly a spike in positive results?
They remain, Betsy is told, the only outlet in the world to return first positive tests for Formestane.
To the laboratory’s credit, they answered in full, a series of questions from Betsy this week around their involvement.
A number of theories, some wild and others more credible, have been sent to Betsy as the fiasco unfolds. Some of them involve RASL.
The most plausible explanation for the positive tests, it seems, is that as RASL is the only organisation in Australia accredited by the International Horseracing Federation Authorities. In short, these labs have stricter testing regulations that others which is why Formestane may be present in testing.
RASL also made a crucial point to Betsy – they confirmed a number of positive tests in horses, 24 in total. But of all the tests they carry out on greyhounds, not a single positive has come back.
All this points to the likely outcome that Formestane is a naturally produced substance in some horses, albeit at very low levels. Racing Victoria, Betsy recently revealed, is now conducting research into whether this occurs.
It could provide an explanation to the trainers already found guilty as to why the substance was in their system.
Betsy asked RASL a number of questions, it’s laboratory director David Batty sent this response on behalf of the organisation.
Has RASL conducted any kind of investigation into their handling of the Formestane positives given the confusion in the racing industry?
Every confirmatory analysis performed by RASL is reviewed by three levels of Senior Management prior to issuing a Certificate of Analysis for the presence of a prohibited substance in a regulatory sample. Furthermore, the referee portion (often referred to as the B-sample) of all samples reported by RASL to contain Formestane has been confirmed by an independent racing laboratory to contain Formestane.
Can RASL provide any indication, suggestions or otherwise as to why it is the only lab in Australia that is picking up Formestane in the first round of testing?
RASL is required to test for the presence of Formestane in accordance with its accreditation as an International Horseracing Federation Authorities (IFHA) Reference Laboratory. RASL is unable to comment on the capabilities of other Australian racing laboratories.
Is RASL accredited under IFAH guidelines?
Yes. RASL is accredited as a Reference Laboratory by the International Federation of
Horseracing Authorities (IFHA).
Given other states may not be accredited by the IFAH, could this be a reason why RASL is the only lab getting a positive for the A samples?
Possibly. RASL is the only laboratory in Australia, and one of only six in the world, to be accredited as an IFHA Reference Laboratory. To maintain this accreditation RASL is required to demonstrate the ability to detect specific substances below minimum required performance levels prescribed by the IFHA.
Can RASL confirm at what levels Formestane has been picked up in the positive tests?
Not to an accurate or precise level. The screening and confirmatory analysis performed to detect and confirm Formestane in equine urine samples is qualitative, not quantitative, therefore no levels can be provided. RASL can provide the opinion that Formestane was easily detected during the
screening process and subsequently confirmed for each of the equine urine samples reported.
Has there been any software updates or reconfigurations that may have impacted testing?
No.
Has there been any staff at RASL using medications that may, in some way, impact the Formestane positive tests?
No.
Has any research been conducted, during 2024 or 2025, that may have impacted the Formestane positives?
No.
Should Victorian racing have confidence in the testing by RASL given the confusion in the industry regarding the positive tests?
Yes. It is important to consider that RASL performs analysis of more than 8,000 equine urine samples per year and has been screening for the presence of Formestane using the same scientific method and equipment since 2017. There were no findings of Formestane until 2023 and RASL has since confirmed the presence of Formestane in 24 thoroughbred and standardbred equine urine samples from Chilean, Victorian, South Australian and Tasmanian jurisdictions. Of note, there has been no detection of Formestane in the more than 20,000 canine urine samples analysed per year by RASL for greyhound racing regulators that are collected using the same sample kits and are subject to the same analysis methods at RASL. Formestane has also been confirmed by international racing laboratories in the USA (3 cases), UK (1 case) and Hong Kong (1 case) during 2024-2025.
Has RASL met with Racing Victoria given their concerns regarding the positive tests?
Yes. RASL regularly meets with Racing Victoria, as it does with all racing regulator customers, to discuss positive analytical findings and information associated with racing integrity.
Can RASL rule out any error, contamination, software, human error or other explanation for the positive tests?
Yes. RASL is accredited by the National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) to the ISO/IEC 17025 Standard for Chemical Testing, therefore has a Quality Assurance System to identify any errors in the work performed. All screening and confirmatory analysis performed by RASL in relation to findings of Formestane in equine urine passed quality control requirements.
Furthermore, the referee (“B”) portion of all samples reported by RASL to contain formestane has been confirmed to contain formestane following independent analysis by a second NATA accredited racing laboratory.
Has RASL made any changes to its testing regime following the spate of positive results?
No
Is RASL comfortable regarding the explanations it has provided to the industry regarding its role in this saga?
Yes. RASL has always acted with accountability and transparency to explain the findings in relation to Formestane detected in regulatory samples. Such explanations have been provided in the form of certificates of analysis, summary reports of analytical results, full analytical data packs for external review, written statements, expert reports and in-person evidence with cross-examination before the Victorian Racing Tribunal. These explanations have all been relied upon to establish the presence of Formestane and 4-hydroxytestosterone in the equine urine samples reported.
