Sec. 2. Findings
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Congress finds the following: Congress enacted the Interstate Horseracing Act of 1978 ( 15 U.S.C. 3001 et seq. ) to regulate interstate commerce with respect to pari-mutuel wagering on Thoroughbred horseracing in order to protect and further the Thoroughbred horseracing industry of the United States. This Act does not modify or eliminate any of the consents, approvals, or agreements required by the Interstate Horseracing Act of 1978 or impair or restrict the operation and enforcement of State law or regulation of Thoroughbred horseracing with respect to matters unrelated to anti-doping or for violations of State or Federal criminal law.
The horseracing industry contributes approximately $25,000,000,000 to the United States economy annually and generates nearly 380,000 domestic jobs. Approximately 50 percent of the 317,000 starts by Thoroughbred horses in 2014 were made by horses that competed in more than one State. Uniform adoption of national anti-doping standards for Thoroughbred horseracing in the United States will promote interstate commerce, encourage fair competition and a level playing field, assure full and fair disclosure of information to purchasers of breeding stock and to the wagering public, will improve the marketplace for domestic and international sales of the American Thoroughbred, will provide a platform for consistency with all major international Thoroughbred horseracing standards, address growing domestic concerns over disparities with international rules, and provide for the safety and welfare of horses and jockeys.
The use of therapeutic medications in Thoroughbred horseracing in the United States must place the health and welfare of the horse at the highest level of priority while achieving consistency with the uses permitted in major international Thoroughbred horseracing jurisdictions, including the use of race-day medication. Because the various States have been unable to adopt a national uniform anti-doping program, national uniform regulations with respect to the use of, and testing for, drugs capable of affecting the results of a Thoroughbred horse race and therapeutic medications used in Thoroughbred horseracing, such rules, procedures and enforcement policies should be implemented, consistent with internationally accepted best practices, by an independent anti-doping organization authorized by an Act of Congress.
For human sports, Congress has demonstrated its commitment to fair competition through legislation, oversight, funding, and by its execution of an international treaty, the UNESCO International Convention Against Doping in Sport. By ratifying the UNESCO Convention, the United States agreed to adopt appropriate measures consistent with the principles of the World Anti-Doping Code and to take appropriate action, including legislation, regulation, policies or administrative practices to implement that commitment.
In the context of Olympic sports, Congress has recognized the United States Anti-Doping Agency as an independent anti-doping organization possessing high-level expertise and credibility in the development and administration of an anti-doping program. Congress supports the establishment of an independent anti-doping organization to ensure the wagering public’s confidence in the fairness of Thoroughbred horseracing and to strengthen and harmonize anti-doping rules and sanctions for Thoroughbred horseracing in order to ensure fair and transparent Thoroughbred horseraces and to deter the commission of anti-doping rule violations.
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