title: Doping Status of DHEA Treatment for Female Athletes with Adrenal Insufficiency.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review the doping status of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) for female athletes with adrenal insufficiency within the framework of Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) applications for this proandrogen, which is included on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)'s Prohibited List.
  Current knowledge of adrenal pathophysiology with a focus on the physiological role and pharmacological effects of DHEA in female athletes including placebo-controlled clinical trials of DHEA and consensus clinical practice and prescribing guidelines.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Because there is no convincing clinical evidence to support the use of DHEA replacement therapy in women with adrenal failure, a TUE for DHEA is not justified by definite health benefit for either secondary or primary adrenal failure. This is consistent with the 2014 update of the US Endocrine Society guidelines, meta-analyses of DHEA treatment in women with or without adrenal failure, current WADA TUE guidance document for adrenal insufficiency and recent case law of WADA's Court of Arbitration for Sport.
authors: *ANZAC Research Institute, University of Sydney, Concord Hospital, New South Wales, Australia; †Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, and Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington; and ‡Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, New Zealand Chair, WADA TUE Expert Group, Dunedin, New Zealand.
authors: David J
authors: DJ
authors: Handelsman
authors: Alvin M
authors: AM
authors: Matsumoto
authors: David F
authors: DF
authors: Gerrard
mesh_terms: D000309:Adrenal Insufficiency / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004300:Doping in Sports / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone