I think you are asking how drug positives are handled by the AERC if a
positive is detected. Here goes----
>
> Would you please address a few questions, if you know:
>
> If a drug test comes back positive, does an AERC vet sub-committee
> review the results and decide whether to prosecute?
All drug positives are handled in a very similar -- almost the same --
manner in which any other protest would be handled with a few
exceptions. The testing laboratory, whether the a state lab (California)
or a commercial lab contracted for the job, reports all positive samples
submitted to them to the AERC office (the executive director). (The
state of California also contacts its own internal organization, the
Department of Agriculture I think, but check me as this as the state has
its
own drug regulations for competitive equine events.)
Since drug positives are a violation of AERC rules, the positive test
from the lab serves as the protestor and no fee is required to register
the protest. (A hundred dollar fee is required to protest any other
AERC rule. This money is returned to the protestor if the protest is
upheld.)
Upon notification by the lab to the Executive Director of the AERC, the
protest is sent simultaneously to the Chair of the Protest and Grievance
Committee and the Chair of the Veterinary Committee. This is done in the
interest of time as our rules have stipulations as to time limits for
notification and response to inquiries from the P&G committee.
The function of The Veterinary Committee is to provide technical
information on the drug(s) involved, (their actions, levels detected,
etc). The Veterinary Committee DOES NOT have any other input as to the
disposition of the protest.
The P&G committee then gathers other information from the rider or others
that have input into the circumstances of the drug positive. These facts
as presented are weighed by the P&G committee and a decison is reached as
to the disposition of the case and the appropriate parties are notified.
The parties have the right to appeal the decision of the P&G committee to
the entire board within time frames specified in AERC rules if they feel
the decision was inappropriate.>
> If so, do you know how they make their decision? In other words, is
> the some internal standard that gives further meaning the AERC Rule 13?
Each case is an individual and is evaluated on its own merits. However,
the basic procedure for the handling of all protest is followed with the
exception of the differneces that I have mentioned. I hope this has
answered the question posed.:)
>
> Thanks again for your thoughtful letter and welcome to the discussion.
>
You are most welcome and I look forward to seeing you at convention. If
there is something that I have missed or have not answered clearly to
your satisfaction, please let me know.
> Ramey. >
Warmest regards
Dane