Why Is Cobalt Banned In Horse Racing?

Once evidence showed that the addition of Cobalt was the cause. It was stopped. Trainers were warned of the severe side effects of its use, which included damaging the thyroid, cardiovascular system, nerve problems, and blood thickening.

What does cobalt do to racehorses?

Regulators and horsemen have long believed cobalt can be used as a performance-enhancing drug in racehorses by altering the biochemical parameters related to red blood cell production.

How long does cobalt stay in a horse’s system?

Because the half-life of cobalt in the equine bloodstream is one week, a horse might not be able to race for up to two months.

Is Hemoplex banned?

Hemoplex was upgraded to a banned substance on May 1, 2021 as it contains cobalt.

Why is cobalt given to horses?

Whilst cobalt is an essential trace element and is naturally present in the horse, it may also have the potential to enhance performance when present at concentrations that exceed normal physiological parameters.

How much is cobalt for horses?

The recommended cobalt requirement for horses has been set at 0.05 mg/kg (ppm) of dry matter intake, which should be met easily by feeding normal feedstuffs.

Can cobalt be removed from the body?

In the rare case that you have large levels of cobalt in your blood, you may need hemodialysis (kidney machine) and get medicines (antidotes) to reverse the effects of the poison.

What are the symptoms of too much cobalt?

Systemic toxic effects from excessive levels of cobalt include peripheral neuropathy, sensorineural hearing loss, vision loss, cognitive decline, cardiomyopathy, hypothyroidism, weakness, fatigue and polycythemia.

Can cobalt poisoning be reversed?

The silver lining to cobalt poisoning is that the symptoms and damage, if caught in time, may be completely reversible. The tragedy, however, is that patients with extreme cases of cobalt toxicity may have injuries that are too severe to be reversed.

What does cobalt do to greyhounds?

The practice of treating horses and greyhounds with arsenic and cobalt has been widespread in the racing industry because it is held that they enhance performance.

Does Tripart contain cobalt?

Examples of injectable vitamin supplements that contain cobalt and/or vitamin B12 include: V.A.M., Hemo-15, Hemoplex, Amino-lite 34X, Kynoselen, Tripart, Coforta, Folic Acid and Vitamin B-12, Dynajec and Cophos B. Various parasiticides, drenches and oral haematinics also contain cobalt.

What is Hemoplex used for?

Hemoplex™ tablets are an enhanced iron formula designed to build healthy blood and protect the vessels that deliver blood to the body. Hemoplex™ tablets help fight daily fatigue, builds resistance to stress and promotes greater energy production.

What is the antidote for cobalt?

[Unithiol, an antidote in cobalt poisoning]

What minerals are toxic to horses?

High levels of Selenium from over supplementing will have very adverse effects on the health of the horse and has proved fatal. Excess Iron, especially in young animals, can be toxic and sometimes even fatal in foals.

What are the benefits of cobalt?

Cobalt is used in the body to help absorb and process vitamin B12. In addition, cobalt helps treat illnesses such as anemia and certain infectious diseases. Cobalt also aids in repair of myelin, which surrounds and protects nerve cells. It helps in the formation of hemoglobin (red blood cells).

Which country owns the most cobalt?

The Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo has the largest cobalt reserves in the world, at some 3.5 million metric tons as of 2021. As the total global cobalt reserves amount to 7.6 million metric tons, this means that the DR Congo’s cobalt reserves account for nearly half of the world’s reserves of the metal.

Who is the biggest producer of cobalt in the world?

Democratic Republic of Congo
1. Democratic Republic of Congo. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is by far the world’s largest producer of cobalt, accounting for roughly 70 percent of global production.

Does grass contain cobalt?

Different grassland species contain varying quantities of cobalt. It is generally assumed that clovers contain more than grasses. Whereas this is true when there is a plentiful supply of Co the reverse may obtain when Co supply is limiting. Among the grasses themselves, ryegrass (Lolium spp.)

What food has cobalt?

Cobalt forms part of the structure of vitamin B12.
Good food sources of cobalt include:

• fish.
• nuts.
• green leafy vegetables, such as broccoli and spinach.
• cereals, such as oats.

What happens if you touch cobalt?

It can harm the eyes, skin, heart, and lungs. Exposure to cobalt may cause cancer. Workers may be harmed from exposure to cobalt and cobalt-containing products. The level of harm depends upon the dose, duration, and work being done.

Do humans need cobalt?

Cobalt is an integral part of vitamin B12 and therefore essential for the function of cells. It is also involved in the production of red blood cells and the production of antibacterial and antiviral compounds that prevent infections.