A painkiller far more powerful than morphine
(Getty Images) Dermorphin is found on the skin of a frog called Phyllomedusa sauvagei, which is native to South America.
Latest Illegal Drug for Racehorses: ‘Frog Juice’
By WALT BOGDANICH and REBECCA R. RUIZ, NYT
Published: June 19, 2012
But for months postrace testing could not find the substance, a painkiller far more powerful than morphine. Then a lab in the Denver area tweaked its testing procedure, and in recent days more than 40 horses from four states have tentatively tested positive for the substance, dermorphin, which is suspected of helping horses run faster.
No trainer has yet been formally charged, though racing regulators expect that to happen soon. Because of its potency and ability to affect the outcome of a race, the use of dermorphin is considered one of the industry’s most serious drug violations.
“We hear about some pretty exotic stuff,” said Dr. Steven Barker, who directs the testing laboratory at Louisiana State University. “Frog juice — this is exotic.”
(More here.)
By WALT BOGDANICH and REBECCA R. RUIZ, NYT
Published: June 19, 2012
But for months postrace testing could not find the substance, a painkiller far more powerful than morphine. Then a lab in the Denver area tweaked its testing procedure, and in recent days more than 40 horses from four states have tentatively tested positive for the substance, dermorphin, which is suspected of helping horses run faster.
No trainer has yet been formally charged, though racing regulators expect that to happen soon. Because of its potency and ability to affect the outcome of a race, the use of dermorphin is considered one of the industry’s most serious drug violations.
“We hear about some pretty exotic stuff,” said Dr. Steven Barker, who directs the testing laboratory at Louisiana State University. “Frog juice — this is exotic.”
(More here.)
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