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U.S. NEWS Wednesday 23 december 2020
Congress approves bill to crack down on racehorse doping

By MATTHEW DALY sponsored the House bill
WASHINGTON (AP) — A bill with Rep. Andy Barr, R-Ky.
to ban race-day doping "For six years now, I have
of horses and set national worked in a bipartisan fash-
medication and track-safe- ion with my friend and part-
ty standards for the horse- ner in this effort, Congress-
racing industry is nearing man Andy Barr, to reform
the finish line. Lawmakers this noble sport to ensure
gave final approval to the it can continue to provide
bill late Monday as part of good jobs and support
the massive legislation on economic vitality'' in Sara-
spending and pandemic toga Springs, N.Y., and
relief. other horse-racing commu-
President Donald Trump is nities, Tonko said in a state-
expected to sign the bill in ment.
the next few days. The new law puts "the well-
Passage of the Horserac- being of our horses and
ing Integrity and Safety jockeys front and center,
Act comes after a series delivering common-sense
of doping scandals and medication reforms and
a rash of horse fatalities in track safety standards that
recent years. More than will restore public trust and
two dozen people were confidence,'' Tonko said.
charged last March in what "After this long race, I am
authorities described as a delighted to see our legis-
widespread international lation finally reach the win-
scheme to drug horses to In this image provided by Hodges Photography, Quick Tempo with Adam Beschizza aboard led ner's circle.''
make them run faster. gate to wire to win the 71st running of the Sugar Bowl Stakes horse race at Fair Grounds race Drew Fleming, president
The House approved the course, Saturday, Nov. 19, 2020, in New Orleans. and CEO of the Breeders'
bill by voice vote in Sep- Associated Press Cup, called the bill "the sin-
tember, sending it to the gle most significant safety
Senate, where Majority Kentucky boasts some of horseracing traditions de- said in a statement. and integrity development
Leader Mitch McConnell the country's top breeding serve to be protected. I'm The new law should "better in the history of Thorough-
co-sponsored similar leg- farms and Churchill Downs, proud the Senate agreed protect every competitor bred racing. This moment
islation. The measure was site of the Kentucky Derby, to my legislation to pre- and give each of them a also demonstrates that
eventually folded into the the first leg of the fabled serve our signature racing fair shot at the winner's cir- great progress can be ac-
larger spending package. Triple Crown. industry and the 24,000 cle," McConnell said. complished when the in-
McConnell's home state of "Kentucky's cherished workers who support it," he Rep. Paul Tonko, D-N.Y., co- dustry works together.'' q

WH virus coordinator

Deborah Birx says she will

retire

WASHINGTON (AP) — Dr. ing holiday weekend even
Deborah Birx, coordina- as the Centers for Disease
tor of the White House Control and Prevention
coronavirus response, said was urging Americans to
Tuesday she plans to re- forgo holiday travel.
tire, but is willing to first help Birx acknowledged in a
President-elect Joe Biden's statement on Sunday that
team with its coronavirus she went to her Delaware
response as needed. property and was accom-
Birx, in an interview with the panied by family members.
news site Newsy, did not She insisted the purpose
give a specific timetable of the roughly 50-hour visit
on her plans. was to deal with the win-
"I will be helpful in any role terization of the property
that people think I can be before a potential sale
helpful in, and then I will re- — something she says she
tire," Birx told the news out- previously hadn't had time
let. to do because of her busy
Birx and White House of- schedule.
ficials did not immediately "I did not go to Delaware
respond to a request for for the purpose of cele-
comment. Her comments brating Thanksgiving," Birx
came just days after The said in her statement, add-
Associated Press reported ing that her family shared
that she traveled out of a meal together while in
state for the Thanksgiv- Delaware.q