I could not possibly enter into a discussion of the chemical properties of cobalt or its derivatives. However I note that there are expert views (some published here) to the effect that the current approach is flawed and/or unnecessary.

More generally, the major point is that both cobalt and arsenic are naturally occurring substances in the community and therefore warrant more attention than the narrow evaluation conducted by GA.

Secondly, their effect on performance is unknown or unproven. You also concentrate on "supplemental" cobalt (whatever that is) but surely the major issue is the presence of incidental quantities via a variety of sources from cornflakes to whatever.

Thirdly, a good system is one in which everyone has confidence. That is not the case here.

Cobalt Chloride and Sulphate are additive mineral salts used in manufacturing, automotive and animal feed industries.
Elemental Cobalt occurs as part of Vitamin B12 but has nothing to do with these two additives.

As I said the thresholds were introduced because of the use of the supplemental Cobalt and Arsenic solutions on the market. Cobalt salts and Arsenic are available for animal use but you will never find them listed for human health and well-being.

And at any rate- if youre electing to supplement your canines with a Cobalt salt (Chloride or Sulphate), or Arsenic, I seriously doubt that youre doing this based on vets advice or for the betterment and general health of the dog. I think youre doing it to gain a competitive advantage. By all means go ahead and use Feramo/Livamol/VAM/Hemoplex/Stockgain and a myriad of other blood boosters. You can even tell me you have the dogs best interest at heart. And you what, I wont doubt you. But if you use them heaps off label insane quantities or you use them inside 72 hours of a race and get a positive then you get what you deserve when the positive swab arises. Blood boosters have not been banned. The threshold exists to promote responsible and considered use of those products.

nanograms per millilitre. The key here is ng/ml. A valid sample can't be taken with less than xx ml urine.

I am not disclosing how much pee is required for a sample deliberately. But just remember it's ng/ml. Not ng absolute in the dog.

And just because I do enjoy science a lot, Cobalt ia measured in micrograms (ug) not milligrams (mg). Essentially a dogs total intake is dietary (Vitamin B12) sources measured in ug + any supplements if any also in ug. Thats why you will see ug listed on substances such as VAM/Hemoplex etc...

A ng is a fraction of a ug. I've told people how to accurately calculate cobalt intake from all sources on another thread so I cant be stuffed repeating it. But I will repeat B12 contains 4.38% cobalt by volume which is stuff all. Because B12 is also measured in ug. So its whatever that number is (in ug) x 0.0438 and thats how much Cobalt you get from vitamin B12.

No-one will ever get a positive feeding corn flakes or weetbix because the sheer volume to be fed is more than a dog could ever eat in a single day. Theres not enough b12 (4.38% cobalt) ever to get you there. It's rubbish if someone tells you different.

Injectables are a different story and thats the reason I only provided an oral intake way to calculate on this board years ago.

Thats a low blow

Haha. It's cool Jamie. What elderly people are taking to improve appetite has got to do with racing greyhound aupplement usage has got me beat anyway.

But all open forums are subject to internet trolls and keyboard warriors. I don't mind opposing viewpoints and cyber tanties anyway. It comes with the territory and its water off a ducks' back anyway.

Turn it up, Ted, at least until you offer quotes or evidence. Just disagreeing with me does not count.

I found Jason's story of interest and informative but what I still don't understand is why the cobalt and arsenic rules have not been professionally challenged.

Ken, thanks for that. The details would be interesting?

Yes, GA made up the rule (poorly) but GA has no powers and so it is only state by state adoption that can make it effective. All states did so.

There is no problem removing it. The state board simply cancels it. However, this might cause dissention in the "team" so it really needs GA to act. GA is no more than a collection of the same states anyway - and a slow-acting one.

..okay I'll bite. 4 folks have agreed with your comment Ray. What is it precisely that is coming in from Asia and beyond? We all speculate a lot on what we think we know but I'd love to see a list finally out there for all to see.