Cobalt chloride doping in racehorses: Concerns over a potentially lethal practice

Mobasheri, Ali; Proudman, C. J.

doi:10.1016/j.tvjl.2015.04.005

Cited by 18 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…Cobalt is reportedly given to racehorses in an effort to gain a competitive advantage and enhance their performance on the racetrack; presumably, the bulk of this theoretical benefit lies in the drug's known ability to act as a potent hypoxia mimetic, stabilizing hypoxia‐inducible factor 1‐alpha (HIF‐1α) and enhancing hematopoiesis in other species through increased erythropoietin production. However, there is no published evidence that CoCl 2 administration to horses orally or parenterally enhances performance . While the hematocrit of the mares included in this study was observed to increase acutely in response to CoCl 2 infusion, values returned to baseline within 15–60 minutes, making this effect on the packed cell volume unlikely to influence performance.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 66%

“…Aside from its pleiotropic roles in intermediary metabolism, cobalt as inorganic cobalt salts is also an effective hypoxia mimetic, and this characteristic has been extensively exploited both for valid reasons (therapy for anemia; facilitation of laboratory investigations of hypoxia on various biological systems) and for illicit use (to enhance performance in elite human athletes) . In human athletes, cobalt administered at pharmacologic doses is associated with increased erythropoietin (EPO) synthesis and increased red blood cell mass, which is thought to confer competitive advantage particularly in endurance competitions, where this practice represents a form of blood doping . In both professional and amateur sports, this is a violation of fair competition, as well as regulations of governing bodies of specific sporting disciplines and has been treated as such by regulatory bodies .…”

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confidence: 99%

“…Recently, anecdotal and regulatory reports of cobalt chloride (CoCl 2 ) administration to Thoroughbred and Standardbred racehorses as a performance‐enhancing substance have surfaced in several racing jurisdictions around the world, including the United States, Australia, Hong Kong, and Canada . In addition, anecdotal reports of complications and sudden death after intravenous administration of CoCl 2 are circulating among horsemen and regulatory officials within the racing industry, raising a major issue concerning animal welfare within this industry.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Effect of Intravenous Administration of Cobalt Chloride to Horses on Clinical and Hemodynamic Variables

Burns

Dembek

Kamr

et al. 2017

Veterinary Internal Medicne

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BackgroundCobalt chloride (CoCl2) is administered to racehorses to enhance performance. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical, cardiovascular, and endocrine effects of parenterally administered CoCl2.ObjectivesTo describe the effects of weekly intravenous doses of CoCl2 on Standardbred horses.AnimalsFive, healthy Standardbred mares.MethodsProspective, randomized, experimental dose‐escalation pilot. Five Standardbred mares were assigned to receive 1 of 5 doses of CoCl2 (4, 2, 1, 0.5, or 0.25 mg/kg) weekly IV for 5 weeks. Physical examination, blood pressure, cardiac output, and electrocardiography (ECG) were evaluated for 4 hours after administration of the first and fifth doses. Blood and urine samples were collected for evaluation of cobalt concentration, CBC and clinical chemistry, and hormone concentrations.ResultsAll mares displayed pawing, nostril flaring, muscle tremors, and straining after CoCl2 infusion. Mares receiving 4, 2, or 1 mg/kg doses developed tachycardia after dosing (HR 60–126 bpm). Ventricular tachycardia was noted for 10 minutes after administration of the 4 mg/kg dose. Increases in systolic arterial pressure (SAP), diastolic arterial pressure (DAP), and mean arterial pressure (MAP) occurred after administration of all doses (4, 2, 1, 0.5, and 0.25 mg/kg). Profound hypertension was observed after the 4 mg/kg dose (SAP/DAP, MAP [mmHg] = 291–300/163–213, 218–279). Hemodynamics normalized by 1–2 hours after administration. ACTH and cortisol concentrations increased within 30 minutes of administration of all CoCl2 doses, and cardiac troponin I concentration increased after administration of the 4 and 2 mg/kg doses.Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceThe degree of hypertension and arrhythmia observed after IV CoCl2 administration raises animal welfare and human safety concerns.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 66%

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confidence: 99%

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confidence: 99%

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Effect of Intravenous Administration of Cobalt Chloride to Horses on Clinical and Hemodynamic Variables

Burns

Dembek

Kamr

et al. 2017

Veterinary Internal Medicne

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“…The potential of the HIF‐1α gene ( HIF1A ) to enhance athletic performance has led WADA and the IFHA to include HIF‐1 modifiers in their prohibited lists of substances . In horseracing, cobalt salts have been used as a doping strategy in Australia, America and Europe for their ability to manipulate the HIF axis . Cobalt modulates the function of HIF1A by preventing iron from binding to prolyl hydroxylase enzymes and inhibiting degradation of HIF‐1α.…”

Section: Equine Performance Genes As Possible Candidates For Equine Gmentioning

confidence: 99%

Equine performance genes and the future of doping in horseracing

Wilkin

Baoutina

Hamilton

2017

Drug Testing and Analysis

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A horse's success on the racetrack is determined by genetics, training and nutrition, and their translation into physical traits such as speed, endurance and muscle strength. Advances in genetic technologies are slowly explaining the roles of specific genes in equine performance, and offering new insights into the development of novel therapies for diseases and musculoskeletal injuries that cause early retirement of many racehorses. Gene therapy approaches may also soon provide new means to artificially enhance the physical performance of racehorses. Gene doping, the misuse of gene therapies for performance enhancement, is predicted to be the next phase of doping faced by horseracing. The risk of gene doping to human sports has been recognised for almost 15 years, and the introduction of the first gene doping detection tests for doping control in human athletes is imminent. Gene doping is also a threat to horseracing, but there are currently no methods to detect it. Efficient and accurate detection methods need to be developed to deter those looking to use gene doping in horses and to maintain the integrity of the sport. Methods developed for human athletes could offer an avenue for detection in racehorses. Development of an equine equivalent test will first require identification of equine genes that will likely be targeted by gene doping attempts. This review focuses on genes that have been linked to athletic performance in horses and, therefore, could be targeted for genetic manipulation. The risks associated with gene doping and approaches to detect gene doping are also discussed.

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“…Recent concerns over cobalt toxicity have emerged from its potential use as a blood doping agent in humans and animals (Jelkmann and Lundby 2011;Lippi et al 2006;Mobasheri and Proudman 2015), as well as its use in surgical patients with Co-containing hip implants (Hasegawa et al…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Protective effects of kolaviron and gallic acid against cobalt-chloride-induced cardiorenal dysfunction via suppression of oxidative stress and activation of the ERK signaling pathway

Akinrinde

Omobowale

Oyagbemi

et al. 2016

Can. J. Physiol. Pharmacol.

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Cobalt (Co) toxicity is a potential public health problem due to recent renewed use of Co in orthopedic implants, dietary supplements and blood doping in athletes and horses. We investigated the protective roles of Kolaviron, KV (a bi-flavonoid of Garcinia kola) and Gallic acid (GA) on cobalt chloride (CoCl 2 ) -induced cardio-renal damage in rats. CoCl 2 caused significant increases (p<0.05) in serum creatine kinase-myocardial band (CK-MB), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), aspartate transaminase (AST), xanthine oxidase (XO), urea, creatinine, malondialdehyde, H 2 O 2 , nitric oxide, as well as C-reactive protein expression, along with significant (p<0.05) reduction in cardiac and renal expression of extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK) and the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione S-transferase.KV and GA prevented the toxic effects of CoCl 2 by stimulating ERK expression and reversing Co-induced biochemical changes. Administration of CoCl 2 alone did not significantly alter ECG patterns in the rats, although co-treatment with KV (200 mg/kg) produced QT-segment prolongation and also appeared to potentiate Co-hypotension. Histopathology of the heart and kidneys of rats treated with KV and GA confirmed the biochemical data. Kolaviron and Gallic acid thus protected against cardiac and renal damage in cobalt-intoxication via antioxidant and/or cell survival mechanisms, possibly involving ERK activation.

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Cobalt chloride doping in racehorses: Concerns over a potentially lethal practice

Cited by 18 publications

References 27 publications

Effect of Intravenous Administration of Cobalt Chloride to Horses on Clinical and Hemodynamic Variables

Effect of Intravenous Administration of Cobalt Chloride to Horses on Clinical and Hemodynamic Variables

Equine performance genes and the future of doping in horseracing

Protective effects of kolaviron and gallic acid against cobalt-chloride-induced cardiorenal dysfunction via suppression of oxidative stress and activation of the ERK signaling pathway

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