The Federal Trade Commission has approved an amendment to rules enforced by the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority that bans the use of injectable iron dextran in horses, according to an announcement from the FTC. The rule banning the use of the substance, which is marketed under several brand names, will go into effect immediately, the FTC said. However, the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit, which enforces HISA’s medication policies, said on Tuesday that they will not begin enforcing the new iron dextran rule until Dec. 27 in order to give horsemen and veterinarians “the next 30 days as an educational period.” Iron dextran is an injectable supplement that is used to treat iron deficiency. Iron is an essential element and necessary for the manufacture of red blood cells. Under HISA rules, there is a two-year recommended suspension for a violation of the banned-substance policy. The policy applies to both findings in biological samples and possession of the banned substance. In filings with the FTC, HISA said that the ban was necessary to protect against the “risk of serious and potentially fatal adverse reactions to iron dextran products,” along with technological limitations in detecting the products in blood and urine samples. In addition, HISA noted that the products are not approved for use in horses and could be abused as “blood-building supplements.” :: Bet with the Best! Get FREE All-Access PPs and Weekly Cashback when you wager on DRF Bets. The filing also noted that the tracks owned by 1/ST Racing had recently banned the possession and use of iron dextran after track officials determined that “several horses” had died over the course of a year after being administered injections of the substance. Dr. Dionne Benson, the chief veterinary officer of 1/ST, said in an interview on Monday that the company banned the substance in 2022, prior to the onset of HISA’s anti-doping and medication control program in May of this year. The fatalities were not directly linked to the use of iron dextran, Benson said, but because the injections have been known to cause reactions that can lead to anaphylaxis, the company decided to ban the substance. “It’s high risk and low reward,” Benson said. “We decided that the best decision was to remove it from use.” HISA submitted the amendment as an emergency rule without first collecting public comment to “act quickly to preserve the safety” of horses, HISA said in its filing. The FTC posted the amendment on its website for 60 days prior to approving the rule by a 3-0 vote. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.