title: The effect of fasting during Ramadan on parameters of the haematological and steroidal modules of the athletes biological passport - a pilot study.
abstract: This study investigated the effect of Ramadan on the haematological and steroid module of the Athletes Biological Passport (ABP) of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Nine healthy physically active subjects were tested in the morning and afternoon for two days before and three days during Ramadan. Sample collection and all analyses were performed according to WADA technical documents. Although there were significant changes in the haemoglobin concentration during Ramadan, especially during the first fasting week, none of the subjects in this study exceeded the individually calculated thresholds of the ABP. No significant effects on testosterone/epitestosterone (T/E) ratio were observed but only the afternoon specific gravity (SG) of the urine was elevated. Thus, when urinary steroid concentrations are required, SG corrections need to be performed. The haematological and the steroid module of the ABP can be reliably applied during Ramadan as the observed changes are only marginal.
authors.affiliation: Anti-Doping Lab Qatar, Doping Analysis Lab, Doha, Qatar.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Alsaadi
authors.affiliation: Anti-Doping Lab Qatar, Doping Analysis Lab, Doha, Qatar.
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Voss
authors.affiliation: Anti-Doping Lab Qatar, Doping Analysis Lab, Doha, Qatar.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kraiem
authors.affiliation: Anti-Doping Lab Qatar, Doping Analysis Lab, Doha, Qatar.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alwahaibi
authors.affiliation: Anti-Doping Lab Qatar, Doping Analysis Lab, Doha, Qatar.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Alyazedi
authors.affiliation: Anti-Doping Lab Qatar, Doping Analysis Lab, Doha, Qatar.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dbes
authors.affiliation: Qatar University, Sport Science Department, Doha, Qatar.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Goebel
authors.affiliation: Anti-Doping Lab Qatar, Life Science Research Division, Doha, Qatar.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mohamed-Ali
authors.affiliation: Anti-Doping Lab Qatar, Life Science Research Division, Doha, Qatar.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Alsowaidi
authors.affiliation: Anti-Doping Lab Qatar, Life Science Research Division, Doha, Qatar.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Seyam
authors.affiliation: Anti-Doping Lab Qatar, Life Science Research Division, Doha, Qatar.
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Bashraheel
authors.affiliation: Anti-Doping Lab Qatar, Doping Analysis Lab, Doha, Qatar.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alsayrafi
authors.affiliation: Anti-Doping Lab Qatar, Doping Analysis Lab, Doha, Qatar.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Georgakopoulos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D056352:Athletes; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D004300:Doping in Sports; D004845:Epitestosterone / Q000652:urine*; D005215:Fasting / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007514:Islam; D008297:Male; D058573:Performance-Enhancing Substances / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D017701:Reticulocyte Count; D013046:Specific Gravity; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors; D016482:Urinalysis; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D006454:Hemoglobins; D058573:Performance-Enhancing Substances; D004845:Epitestosterone
keywords: athletes; biological; doping; hematological; passport; ramadan; steroids