Whistleblowers cite alarming performance enhancing drug abuse in rodeo animals

Published on Thu, Dec 6, 2012 (8 a.m.)

Submitted by Showing Animals Respect and Kindness (SHARK)

Thursday December 6, 2012 - Las Vegas – As the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) event gets underway in Las Vegas the national animal protection organization, SHowing Animals Respect and Kindness (SHARK) is calling on the NFR to test for performance enhancing drugs in the rodeo animals. SHark has been contacted by whistleblowers that are extremely concerned over the safety of the horses citing rampant drug abuse. Organizations such as the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA) have voted to enforce a policy on drug testing but have yet to start testing even though some of their top 15 female riders competing in the barrel races at the NFR are known drug abusers. Insider information tells of trash bags full of syringes clearly visible at the events.

Today, (Thursday December 6th) the WPRA are holding their annual luncheon at the South Point Hotel, 9777 Las Vegas Blvd, at 11:45 am – 2:00pm where questions can be asked. The top 15 female barrel racers will be in attendance as well as WPRA President, Jimmie Munro. Drugs that should be banned include: Demorphine, Morphine, Equipoise, Winstrol – V, Acepromazine, Chlorpromazine, Clenbuterol (Ventipulmin), Fluphenazine, Lasix, Guanabenz, Viagra, Prozac and Ritalin

Drug abuse is dangerous for both animals and contestants," states SHARK president Steve Hindi. "We applaud those in rodeo who are trying to clean things up, and we will do everything we can to assist. If rodeo officials don't want to see a lot more of us this coming season, they need to do the right thing."

SHARK urges drug tests on all NFR animals, drug tests on all winning animals at large rodeos, and random tests at small rodeos.

SHARK is a US registered 501©(3) tax-deductible non-profit charity. SHARK's mission is to nonviolently battle animal abuse whenever and wherever possible.