Advances in The Detection of Designer Steroids in Anti-Doping

Abstract

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.

C−H Acetoxylation‐Based Chemical Synthesis of 17 β‐Hydroxymethyl‐17 α‐methyl‐18‐norandrost‐13‐ene Steroids

“…But their full structural elucidation still remains an unresolved issue. These metabolites cannot be isolated in quantities sufficient for NMR analysis, and the only way to prove their structures is the preparation of synthetic samples for comparison purposes …”

Challenges in detecting substances for equine anti‐doping

“…[52][53][54] The detection strategies have been thoroughly reviewed elsewhere. [55] It is not uncommon that doping agents used in human sports would likewise be abused in equine sports. [56] The detection of designer steroids seems have been initiated by animal sports as several racing laboratories have conducted relative metabolic studies.…”

“…[56] The detection of designer steroids seems have been initiated by animal sports as several racing laboratories have conducted relative metabolic studies. [55] Therefore, designer steroids would pose a similar threat to the horseracing and equestrian communities. More specifically, detection of AAS abuse in equine sports requires knowledge of the new drug's metabolism in order to target appropriate metabolites.…”

Ultra‐fast retroactive processing of liquid chromatography high‐resolution full‐scan Orbitrap mass spectrometry data in anti‐doping screening of human urine

“…Due to the technological advances and increasing knowledge of metabolism, new slowly excreted metabolites of known anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) were discovered; these long‐term metabolites allow the possible detection of AAS abuse for a longer time after the administration has been stopped, compared to the previously known metabolites . Furthermore, new designer drugs – molecules outside the official pharmaceutical system – have been produced and marketed escaping national legislations . It has been proven that the reanalysis of old samples previously reported as negatives has resulted in reporting more positive cases for doping use than the initial testing…”