Sec. 2. Findings
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Congress finds the following: Recognizing the substantial relation that horseracing has to interstate commerce, Congress enacted the Interstate Horseracing Act of 1978 ( 15 U.S.C. 3001 et seq.) to regulate pari-mutuel wagering on horseracing in order to protect and further the horseracing industry of the United States. This Act does not modify or supplement the Interstate Horseracing Act of 1978 or impair or restrict the operation and enforcement of State law or regulation of horseracing with respect to matters unrelated to anti-doping and medication control or for violations of State or Federal criminal law.
Approximately 40 percent of the 635,890 starts by Thoroughbred, Quarter Horse, and Standardbred racehorses in 2018 were made by horses that competed in more than one State. Those Thoroughbred, Quarter Horse, and Standardbred racehorses which participated in races in more than one State in 2018 made over 55 percent of all United States racing starts that year. Uniform adoption of national anti-doping and medication control standards for 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 United States horses, will provide a platform for consistency with all major international 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 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 horseracing jurisdictions. Because the various States have been unable to adopt a national uniform anti-doping and medication control program, national uniform regulations with respect to the use of, and testing for, drugs capable of affecting the results of a horse race and therapeutic medications used in horseracing, such rules, procedures, and enforcement policies should be implemented, consistent with internationally accepted best practices, by an independent anti-doping and medication control 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 and medication control organization possessing high-level expertise and credibility in the development and administration of an anti-doping and medication control program. Congress supports the establishment of an independent anti-doping and medication control organization to ensure the wagering public’s confidence in the fairness of horseracing and to strengthen and harmonize anti-doping and medication control rules and sanctions for horseracing in order to ensure fair and transparent horseraces and to deter the commission of anti-doping and medication control rule violations.
The movement of horses among the States for the purpose of participating in covered horseraces, the widespread acceptance, receipt, and transmission of wagers on covered horseraces in interstate commerce, and the need to ensure integrity of competition in, and wagering on, covered horseraces warrant congressional action as set forth in this Act.
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