Advances in the detection of designer steroids in anti-doping.
The abuse of unknown designer androgenic anabolic steroids (AAS) is considered to be an issue of significant importance, as AAS are the choice of doping preference according to World Anti-doping Agency statistics. In addition, unknown designer AAS are preferred since the World Anti-doping Agency mass spectrometric identification criteria cannot be applied to unknown molecules. Consequently, cheating athletes have a strong motive to use designer AAS in order to both achieve performance enhancement and to escape from testing positive in anti-doping tests. To face the problem, a synergy is required between the anti-doping analytical science and sports anti-doping regulations. This Review examines various aspects of the designer AAS. First, the structural modifications of the already known AAS to create new designer molecules are explained. A list of the designer synthetic and endogenous AAS is then presented. Second, we discuss progress in the detection of designer AAS using: mass spectrometry and bioassays; analytical data processing of the unknown designer AAS; metabolite synthesis; and, long-term storage of urine and blood samples. Finally, the introduction of regulations from sports authorities as preventive measures for long-term storage and reprocessing of samples, initially reported as negatives, is discussed.
Antidoping Lab Qatar, Sports City Road, Aspire Zone, PO Box 27775, Doha, Qatar.
Wadha
W
Abushareeda
Argyro
A
Fragkaki
Ariadni
A
Vonaparti
Yiannis
Y
Angelis
Maria
M
Tsivou
Khadija
K
Saad
Souheil
S
Kraiem
Emmanouil
E
Lyris
Mohammed
M
Alsayrafi
Costas
C
Georgakopoulos
D045930:Anabolic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism*; D004300:Doping in Sports / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D013256:Steroids / Q000032:analysis*
D045930:Anabolic Agents; D013256:Steroids