Analysis of pharmaceutical products and dietary supplements seized from the black market among bodybuilders

Fabresse, Nicolas; Gheddar, Laurie; Kintz, Pascal; Knapp, Anne‐Marie; Larabi, Islam Amine; Alvarez, Jean‐Claude

doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2021.110771

Cited by 21 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 30 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The analysis for substandard substances comes with some challenges. Firstly, defined ranges of declared labels could vary massively between articles, had a quantitative analysis been performed, with defined ranges between 50–200% [ 26 ], 80–130% [ 42 ], 80–120% [ 43 ] or 90–110% [ 44 ]. In some studies, the contained active ingredients in “under-concentrated” preparations was much lower than 50% of that indicated (e.g.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fake anabolic androgenic steroids on the black market – a systematic review and meta-analysis on qualitative and quantitative analytical results found within the literature

et al. 2022

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Objective Supraphysiologic doses of anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) are widely used to improve body image and sport performance goals. These substances can easily be acquired over the internet, leading to a substantial black market. We reviewed literature that assessed the quality and quantity of AAS found on the black market. Methods We searched PubMed/Medline, Embase and Google Scholar for articles published before March 2022. Additional hand searches were conducted to obtain studies not found in the primary literature search. Studies were included if they report on qualitative and/or quantitative analytical findings of AAS from the black market. Primary outcomes were proportions of counterfeit or substandard AAS. Eligible articles were extracted; quality appraisal was done using the ToxRTool for in-vitro studies. We used random-effects models to calculate the overall mean estimates for outcomes. The review protocol has been published and registered in INPLASY. Results Overall, 19 studies, which in total comprised 5,413 anabolic samples, met the inclusion criteria, and passed the quality appraisal from two WHO world regions that reported findings, the Americas and Europe. Most studies were nonclinical laboratory studies (95%) and provided samples seized by authorities (74%). In 18 articles, proportions of counterfeit substances and in eight articles, proportions of substandard substances were presented. The overall mean estimate for counterfeit anabolic steroids found on the black market was 36% (95% CI = 29, 43). An additional 37% (95% CI = 17, 63) were of substandard quality. We also demonstrate that these drugs could contain no active ingredient, or in another amount than that labeled, a wrong active ingredient, as well as not all or more active ingredients than were labeled. High heterogeneity among all analyses and significant differences between geographical subgroups were found. Conclusion With this systematic review and meta-analysis, we demonstrate that substantial mean proportions of black-market AAS are counterfeit and of substandard quality. These products pose a considerable individual and public health threat, and the very wide range in proportions of fake black-market AAS puts the user in a situation of unpredictable uncertainty. There is a great need for future prevention and harm-reduction programs to protect users from these substances.

show abstract

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fake anabolic androgenic steroids on the black market – a systematic review and meta-analysis on qualitative and quantitative analytical results found within the literature

et al. 2022

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In the recent years, it has been increasingly published that dietary supplements can be falsified 1 . They may contain no active ingredient or other active ingredient(s).…”

Section: Acetazolamide Concentrationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the recent years, it has been increasingly published that dietary supplements can be falsified. 1 They may contain no active ingredient or other active ingredient(s). In addition, the announced active ingredient can be associated to other active substances or present a variable dose.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Hair testing for acetazolamide as an evidence of the use of a contaminated dietary supplement

Kintz

Gheddar

Ameline

et al. 2021

Drug Testing and Analysis

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Challenges in sports drug testing include, however, also the need for information addressing the question as to how, when, and to which extent an athlete was exposed to a doping agent, especially when inadvertent exposure is argued. Here, complementary (and frequent) sampling, for example, via dried blood spots (DBS) 20 and/or hair analysis, 32 might offer valuable material to contribute to assessing the plausibility of discussed scenarios, including those that presumably result from still prevailing food and food supplement contaminations 33–36 …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Annual banned‐substance review: Analytical approaches in human sports drug testing 2020/2021

Thevis

Kuuranne

Geyer

2021

Drug Testing and Analysis

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Most core areas of anti‐doping research exploit and rely on analytical chemistry, applied to studies aiming at further improving the test methods' analytical sensitivity, the assays' comprehensiveness, the interpretation of metabolic profiles and patterns, but also at facilitating the differentiation of natural/endogenous substances from structurally identical but synthetically derived compounds and comprehending the athlete's exposome. Further, a continuously growing number of advantages of complementary matrices such as dried blood spots have been identified and transferred from research to sports drug testing routine applications, with an overall gain of valuable additions to the anti‐doping field. In this edition of the annual banned‐substance review, literature on recent developments in anti‐doping published between October 2020 and September 2021 is summarized and discussed, particularly focusing on human doping controls and potential applications of new testing strategies to substances and methods of doping specified in the World Anti‐Doping Agency's 2021 Prohibited List.

show abstract

Analysis of pharmaceutical products and dietary supplements seized from the black market among bodybuilders

Cited by 21 publications

References 30 publications

Fake anabolic androgenic steroids on the black market – a systematic review and meta-analysis on qualitative and quantitative analytical results found within the literature

Fake anabolic androgenic steroids on the black market – a systematic review and meta-analysis on qualitative and quantitative analytical results found within the literature

Hair testing for acetazolamide as an evidence of the use of a contaminated dietary supplement

Annual banned‐substance review: Analytical approaches in human sports drug testing 2020/2021

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About