WASHINGTON (AP) — A bipartisan pair of lawmakers is seeking a national ban on performance-enhancing drugs in horse racing, calling for a federal role in a sport that lacks uniform standards.

Under the legislation by Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M., and Rep. Ed Whitfield, R-Ky., any person with three violations of the prohibition would be permanently banned from horse racing. A horse that tests positive for performance-enhancing drugs three times would receive a ban of at least two years.

The bill comes three years after some in the industry urged the federal government to get involved, following the death of Eight Belles at the 2008 Kentucky Derby. A drug test proved that the horse was clear of steroids, but the incident helped shine a light on safety problems and the lack of a single governing body. Rick Dutrow, trainer of the Derby winner Big Brown, acknowledged he regularly injected the horse with the then-legal steroid stanozolol.

Prominent horse owner Jess Jackson, who died last week, pleaded at that hearing: “We need a league and a commissioner. We need action, please. Congress, help.”

At the time, Whitfield indicated Congress would soon get involved. Read More…