Federal Authorities Seize Performance-Enhancing Drugs Bound For Unnamed Horse Racing Insiders

U.S. Customs and Border Protection declined to provide details to the Paulick Report about who the packages were addressed to or whether any criminal charges were expected, but a spokesman said the investigation is ongoing.

The release indicated all the products were imported from Mexico and were “destined to multiple individuals throughout the U.S., some with nexus to racing or other horse performance venues.” That leaves questions as to which racing breeds the products were for, and whether other equine sports may be involved.

According to photos released by the agency, some of the venom products are labeled as having been made in Taiwan but sold by a company called Equirace that appears to be based in Mexico. The company’s Facebook page was down May 2, but its Instagram touts what it says are customers’ fantastic results from the illegal Quarter Horse match racing circuit. Other products came from Tornel Laboratories and Fresno Race Pharmacy, which also have social media pages indicating they are based in Mexico.

Injectable products may not be legally sold to lay people, and FDA law requires that substances that can be considered “drugs” be approved by the regulatory body, which requires extensive testing for efficacy and purity, as well as ongoing monitoring of production. Items that are mass-produced and marketed as having curative or other medical effects are considered by the agency to be “drugs.”

Through a spokesperson, officials with the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority and Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit declined to comment on the drug seizure.