Annual banned‐substance review—Analytical approaches in human sports drug testing 2021/2022–

Abstract

Also in 2021/2022, considerable efforts were invested into advancing human sports drug testing programs, recognizing and taking into account existing as well as emerging challenges in anti-doping, especially with regard to substances and methods of doping specified in the World Anti-Doping Agency's 2022 Prohibited List. In this edition of the annual banned-substance review, literature on recent developments published between October 2021 and September 2022 is summarized and discussed.Focus is put particularly on enhanced analytical approaches and complementary testing options in human doping controls, appreciating the exigence and mission in anti-doping and, equally, the contemporary "new normal" considering, for example, the athlete's exposome versus analytical sensitivity and applicable anti-doping regulations for result interpretation and management.

The purpose and effectiveness of doping testing in sport

“…The purpose of doping testingdetection vs. deterrence Doping testing is not exclusively undertaken to obtain analytical evidence of the use of prohibited substances or methods in the form of positive samples. Although the analytical methods used to analyse biological samples from athletes are continuously improving [e.g., (20,21)], testing in itself continue to have several limitations in exposing doping, including but not limited to a short window of detection and low test sensitivity for certain substances, and high predictability of testing (8). In view of these shortcomings, it has been suggested that it is necessary to carry out 16-50 tests per athlete per year to uncover all doping cases (8).…”

Development of a Rapid, Targeted LC-IM-MS Method for Anabolic Steroids

“…Importantly, they also demonstrate good separation of isomeric/isobaric species and the ability to reduce interferences by IM filtering . To supplement the annual Prohibited List, the Thevis group also publishes its Annual Banned Substances Report which outlines the most recent analytical advances in sports drug testing programs, organized by class in parallel with the Prohibited List. This report especially highlighted recent work by our group, in which Velosa et al demonstrated improved selectivity by incorporating CCS measurement with an LC-IM-MS method .…”

Annual banned‐substance review 16th edition—Analytical approaches in human sports drug testing 2022/2023

“…Minimizing or even preventing doping in sport has been shown to represent a massive undertaking, which necessitates a holistic approach, including (among other critical aspects) the continuous improvement of analytical approaches that allow for the detection of prohibited substances and methods of doping using athletes' doping control samples. 1 While historically anti-doping measures have predominantly relied on analytical chemistry, the consideration and implementation of other angles in support of an optimized anti-doping effort have received growing attention, ranging from enhanced and intelligencebased athlete identification, 2 sample collection and testing plans 3 to the exploitation of concepts applied in safety science research. 4 Here, an in-depth understanding of adverse incident causation (i.e., an adverse analytical finding [AAF] and anti-doping rule violation [ADRV]) and means to prevent future occurrences has been sought, conceptualized either in the light of average sample-to-ADRV rates or in a Systems Theoretic Accident Model and ProcesseS (STAMPS) context, designed to assist in identifying interacting systemic conditions creating the undesirable outcome of an ADRV.…”

“…Minimizing or even preventing doping in sport has been shown to represent a massive undertaking, which necessitates a holistic approach, including (among other critical aspects) the continuous improvement of analytical approaches that allow for the detection of prohibited substances and methods of doping using athletes' doping control samples 1 . While historically anti‐doping measures have predominantly relied on analytical chemistry, the consideration and implementation of other angles in support of an optimized anti‐doping effort have received growing attention, ranging from enhanced and intelligence‐based athlete identification, 2 sample collection and testing plans 3 to the exploitation of concepts applied in safety science research 4 .…”