Detection of methandienone and its metabolites in equine urine, plasma and hair following a multidose oral administration

Methandienone is an anabolic-androgenic steroid that is prohibited in equine sports due to its potential performance enhancing properties. Metabolism and detection of methandienone in equine urine have been investigated comprehensively in literature; however, there is a limited knowledge about its metabolites in equine plasma and no information about its detection in equine hair. Following a multi-dose oral administration of methandienone to two Thoroughbred horses, 17-epimethandienone, methyltestosterone, two mono-hydroxylated, two di-hydroxylated and three 17α-methylandrostanetriol metabolites were detected in plasma. The majority of these were present as free analytes, whilst the mono-hydroxylated metabolites and one isomer of 17α-methylandrostanetriol were partially conjugated. Estimated peak concentrations of methandienone were 6,000 and 11,100 pg/ml; meanwhile, they were 25.4 and 40.5 pg/ml for methyltestosterone. The most abundant analyte in the post-administration plasma samples of both horses was the mono-hydroxylated metabolite; however, the parent compound provided the longest detection (up to 96 h). Screening analysis of hair enabled the detection of methandienone in mane hair samples only, for up to 3 months. Its mono- and di-hydroxylated metabolites were detected with greater peak responses for up to 6 months post-administration in both mane and tail samples, showing that these metabolites could be better analytical targets for hair analysis when administered orally. A follow-up methodology with an extensive wash procedure confirmed the presence of methandienone and its metabolites in a number of post-administration hair samples. Final wash samples were also analysed to assess the degree of internal incorporation (via bloodstream) against possible external deposition (via sweat/sebum).

Processes in Doping System: Quantification Reports in Mixed Martial Arts Fighters

Mixed martial arts (MMA) has always been surrounded by controversy due to the unusual muscle development of its participants, so it is crucial to know the strategies that have been implemented to reduce doping cases. The main purpose of this paper is to describe the various cases of doping detected by USADA in UFC MMA participants. In addition, strategies that are being developed to reduce cases of positive doping are proposed. From the UFC USADA database, doping cases were extracted, obtaining the substance or substances involved; the formula, physiological effect and the athletes involved; the dates of the sampling; if it was out of competition or in-competition and the sanction time. The substances that were most involved were found to be Ostarine (22), Clomiphene (9), Diuretics (10) and Stanozolol (9). Some sanctions were diminished because they were treated with contamination of supplements (cases of Ostarine) and cases of contamination of meat (Clomiphene). When contaminated supplements were reported, they were added to the list of high-risk supplements maintained as part of USADA’s online dietary supplement safety education and awareness resource—Supplement 411. There were also cases in which positive doping could be avoided through the early report of therapeutic use exemptions. The methodology that the USADA has implemented allows us to register the athletes with positive doping, check the risk of the supplements before being bought and provide a teaching portal. These efforts are necessary to implement in all countries in which MMA is practiced, avoiding the participation of doped martial artists.

Doping detection in animals: A review of analytical methodologies published from 1990 to 2019

Despite the impressive innate physical abilities of horses, camels, greyhounds, or pigeons, doping agents might be administered to these animals to improve their performance. To control these illegal practices, anti-doping analytical methodologies have been developed. This review compiles the analytical methods that have been published for the detection of prohibited substances administered to animals involved in sports over 30 years. Relevant papers meeting the search criteria that discussed analytical methods aiming to detect and/or quantify doping substances in animal biological matrices published from 1990 to 2019 were considered. A total of 317 studies were included, of which 298 were related to horses, demonstrating significant advances toward the development of doping detection methods for equine sports. However, analytical methods for the detection of doping agents in sports involving other species are lacking. Due to enhanced accuracy and specificity, chromatographic analysis coupled to mass spectrometry detection is preferred over immunoassays. Regarding biological matrices, blood and urine remain the first choice, although alternative biological matrices, such as hair and feces, have been considered. With the increasing number and type of drugs used as doping agents, the analytes addressed in the published papers are diverse. It is very important to continue to detect and quantify these drugs, recognizing those that are most frequently used, in order to punish the abusers, protect animals' health, and ensure a healthier and genuine competition.

The metabolism of anabolic-androgenic steroids in the greyhound

BACKGROUND

Effective control of the use of anabolic-androgenic steroids (AASs) in animal sports is essential in order to ensure both animal welfare and integrity. In order to better police their use in Australian and New Zealand greyhound racing, thorough metabolic studies have been carried out on a range of registered human and veterinary AASs available in the region.

RESULTS

Canine metabolic data are presented for the AASs boldenone, danazol, ethylestrenol, mesterolone, methandriol, nandrolone and norethandrolone. The principal Phase I metabolic processes observed were the reduction of A-ring unsaturations and/or 3-ketones with either 3α,5β- or 3β,5α-stereochemistry, the oxidation of secondary 17β-hydroxyl groups and 16α-hydroxylation. The Phase II β-glucuronylation of sterol metabolites was extensive.

CONCLUSION

The presented data have enabled the effective analysis of AASs and their metabolites in competition greyhound urine samples.

Metabolism of anabolic steroids and their relevance to drug detection in horseracing

The fight against doping in sport using analytical chemistry is a mature area with a history of approximately 100 years in horseracing. In common with human sport, anabolic/androgenic steroids (AASs) are an important group of potential doping agents. Particular issues with their detection are extensive metabolism including both phase I and phase II. A number of the common AASs are also endogenous to the equine. A further issue is the large number of synthetic steroids produced as pharmaceutical products or as 'designer' drugs intended to avoid detection or for the human supplement market. An understanding of the metabolism of AASs is vital to the development of effective detection methods for equine sport. The aim of this paper is to review current knowledge of the metabolism of appropriate steroids, the current approaches to their detection in equine sport and future trends that may affect equine dope testing.

Some aspects of doping and medication control in equine sports

This chapter reviews drug and medication control in equestrian sports and addresses the rules of racing, the technological advances that have been made in drug detection and the importance of metabolism studies in the development of effective drug surveillance programmes. Typical approaches to screening and confirmatory analysis are discussed, as are the quality processes that underpin these procedures. The chapter also addresses four specific topics relevant to equestrian sports: substances controlled by threshold values, the approach adopted recently by European racing authorities to control some therapeutic substances, anabolic steroids in the horse and LC-MS analysis in drug testing in animal sports and metabolism studies. The purpose of discussing these specific topics is to emphasise the importance of research and development and collaboration to further global harmonisation and the development and support of international rules.

Modern techniques for the determination of anabolic–androgenic steroid doping in the horse

Control of the use of performance-affecting substances in the horse is critical to the integrity of a wide range of equine sports, with major implications for both animal welfare and revenue streams. One class of medications enjoying particular public notoriety is the anabolic–androgenic steroid group, as highlighted by the recent ‘Big Brown’ affair and Congressional inquiries into the use of steroids in professional sports, including horse racing, in the USA. This review examines the latest developments pertaining to the analytical detection of these substances in equine biological samples and the supporting regulatory environment. Consideration is given to the full variety of sample matrices available, together with modern sample preparative approaches and instrumental techniques. Issues concerning the regulation of endogenous steroids, including thresholds where applicable, are also discussed.