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Sakellariou P, Kiousi P, Petrou M, Angelis YS. Simultaneous quantitation and identification of intact Nandrolone phase II oxo-metabolites based on derivatization and inject LC-MS/(HRMS) methodology. Drug Test Anal 2024. [PMID: 38581282 DOI: 10.1002/dta.3689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2024] [Revised: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024]
Abstract
Α sensitive and selective derivatization and inject method for the quantification of intact nandrolone phase II oxo-metabolites was developed and validated using liquid chromatography - (tandem high resolution) mass spectrometry (LC-MS/(HRMS)). For the derivatization, Girard's reagent T (GRT) was used directly in natural urine samples and the analysis of the metabolites of interest was performed by direct injection into LC-MS/(HRMS) system operating in positive ionization mode. Derivatization enabled the efficient detection of nandrolone oxo-metabolites, while at the same time producing intense product ions under collision-induced dissociation (CID) conditions that are related to metabolites of the steroid backbone and not to the conjugated moieties. Glucuronide and sulfate metabolites of nandrolone were chromatographically resolved and quantified in the same run in the range of 1-100 ng mL-1, while at the same time structure identification could be performed for each metabolite. Full validation of the method was performed according to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) International Standard for Laboratories (ISL). Nandrolone oxo-metabolites were quantified in two sets of urine samples, the first set consisted of real urine samples previously detected as negative and the second set consisted of urine samples collected from two excretion studies after nandrolone decanoate administration. The results for 19-norandrosterone glucuronide (19-NAG) and 19-noretiocholanolone glucuronide (19-NEG) were compared with those obtained by traditional gas chromatography - (tandem) mass spectrometry (GC-MS/[MS]) method.
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Affiliation(s)
- Panagiotis Sakellariou
- Doping Control Laboratory of Athens, Institute of Biosciences and Applications, National Centre for Scientific Research "Demokritos", Athens, Greece
| | - Polyxeni Kiousi
- Doping Control Laboratory of Athens, Institute of Biosciences and Applications, National Centre for Scientific Research "Demokritos", Athens, Greece
| | | | - Yiannis S Angelis
- Doping Control Laboratory of Athens, Institute of Biosciences and Applications, National Centre for Scientific Research "Demokritos", Athens, Greece
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2
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Nair VS, Howa JD, Morrison MS, Beggs L, Campbell T, Fedoruk M, Ahrens B, Eichner D. δ 13 C values of urinary 19-norandrosterone in antidoping samples and potential for adverse findings from boar offal consumption. Drug Test Anal 2023; 15:1356-1360. [PMID: 36929692 DOI: 10.1002/dta.3470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Revised: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
Abstract
19-Norandrosterone (19NA) is the preferred urinary target compound to identify doping with nandrolone or related 19-norsteroids. At concentrations between 2.5 and 15 ng/mL, isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) is required to establish exogenous origin of urinary 19NA. An absolute difference of 3‰ between urinary 19NA and an endogenous reference compound (ERC) constitutes a finding for exogenous origin of 19NA. Over the last 3 years, 77 samples containing urinary 19NA between 2.5 and 15 ng/mL were analyzed at our laboratory. The measured δ13 C values for 19NA ranged from -29.5‰ to -16.8‰. In comparison, the δ13 C values for the corresponding urinary ERCs ranged from -22.4‰ to -16.2‰. Due to the considerable overlap in values between the target compound and the natural range of urinary ERCs, it can be challenging to distinguish between endogenous and exogenous origins of urinary 19NA. In addition, it is well known that consumption of offal from non-castrated pigs can produce 19NA in urine. To determine whether this could cause a positive IRMS finding under the current IRMS positivity criteria, meat from non-castrated boars fed a mixture of corn and soy was consumed by 13 volunteers. Two volunteers produced 19NA findings above 2.5 ng/mL, and the measured isotope values, while inconsistent with documented 19-norsteroid preparations, did meet IRMS positivity criteria. However, these increases in 19NA urinary concentrations were short-lived due to rapid elimination. Timely follow-up collections may help support a claim for dietary exposure when low urinary concentrations of 19NA with pseudo-endogenous isotope values are observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vinod S Nair
- Sports Medicine Research and Testing Laboratory, South Jordan, Utah, USA
| | - John D Howa
- Sports Medicine Research and Testing Laboratory, South Jordan, Utah, USA
| | - Matthew S Morrison
- Sports Medicine Research and Testing Laboratory, South Jordan, Utah, USA
| | - Lacey Beggs
- Sports Medicine Research and Testing Laboratory, South Jordan, Utah, USA
| | - Thane Campbell
- Sports Medicine Research and Testing Laboratory, South Jordan, Utah, USA
| | - Matthew Fedoruk
- United States Anti-Doping Agency, Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA
| | - Brian Ahrens
- UCLA Olympic Analytical Laboratory, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Daniel Eichner
- Sports Medicine Research and Testing Laboratory, South Jordan, Utah, USA
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3
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Thevis M, Kuuranne T, Fedoruk M, Geyer H. Sports drug testing and the athletes' exposome. Drug Test Anal 2021; 13:1814-1821. [PMID: 34694748 DOI: 10.1002/dta.3187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Revised: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Similar to the general population, elite athletes are exposed to a complex set of environmental factors including chemicals and radiation and also biological and physical stressors, which constitute an exposome that is, unlike for the general population, subjected to specific scrutiny for athletes due to applicable antidoping regulations and associated (frequent) routine doping controls. Hence, investigations into the athlete's exposome and how to distinguish between deliberate drug use and different contamination scenarios has become a central topic of antidoping research, as a delicate balance is to be managed between the vital and continually evolving developments of sensitive analytical techniques on the one hand, and the risk of the athletes' exposome potentially causing adverse analytical findings on the other.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Thevis
- Center for Preventive Doping Research - Institute of Biochemistry, German Sport University Cologne, Cologne, Germany.,European Monitoring Center for Emerging Doping Agents, Cologne, Germany
| | - Tiia Kuuranne
- Swiss Laboratory for Doping Analyses, University Center of Legal Medicine, Genève and Lausanne, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois and University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Matthew Fedoruk
- United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA
| | - Hans Geyer
- Center for Preventive Doping Research - Institute of Biochemistry, German Sport University Cologne, Cologne, Germany.,European Monitoring Center for Emerging Doping Agents, Cologne, Germany
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4
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Iannella L, Colamonici C, Curcio D, Botrè F, de la Torre X. Detecting the abuse of 19-norsteroids in doping controls: A new gas chromatography coupled to isotope ratio mass spectrometry method for the analysis of 19-norandrosterone and 19-noretiocholanolone. Drug Test Anal 2020; 13:770-784. [PMID: 33242373 DOI: 10.1002/dta.2985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2020] [Revised: 11/23/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
The detection of 19-norsteroids abuse in doping controls currently relies on the determination of 19-norandrosterone (19-NA) by gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS). An additional confirmatory analysis by gas chromatography coupled to isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC-C-IRMS) is performed on samples showing 19-NA concentrations between 2.5 and 15 ng/ml and not originated from pregnant female athletes or female treated with 19-norethisterone. 19-Noretiocholanolone (19-NE) is typically produced to a lesser extent as a secondary metabolite. The aim of this work was to improve the GC-C-IRMS confirmation procedure for the detection of 19-norsteroids misuse. Both 19-NA and 19-NE were analyzed as target compounds (TCs), whereas androsterone (A), pregnanediol (PD), and pregnanetriol (PT) were selected as endogenous reference compounds (ERCs). The method was validated and applied to urine samples collected by three male volunteers after the administration of nandrolone-based formulations. Before the instrumental analysis, urine samples (<25 ml) were hydrolyzed with β-glucuronidase from Escherichia coli and extracted with n-pentane. Compounds of interest were purified through a single (for PT) or double (for 19-NE, 19-NA, A, and PD) liquid chromatographic step, to reduce the background noise and eliminate interferences that could have affect the accuracy of δ13 C values. The limit of quantification (LOQ) of 2 ng/ml was ensured for both 19-NA and 19-NE. The 19-NE determination could be helpful in case of "unstable" urine samples, in late excretion phases or when coadministration with 5α-reductase inhibitors occur.
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Affiliation(s)
- Loredana Iannella
- Laboratorio Antidoping, Federazione Medico Sportiva Italiana, Rome, Italy.,Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologia del Farmaco, "Sapienza" Università di Roma, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Davide Curcio
- Laboratorio Antidoping, Federazione Medico Sportiva Italiana, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Botrè
- Laboratorio Antidoping, Federazione Medico Sportiva Italiana, Rome, Italy.,ISSUL-Institute des sciences du sport, Université de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Xavier de la Torre
- Laboratorio Antidoping, Federazione Medico Sportiva Italiana, Rome, Italy
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5
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Brailsford AD, Majidin WNM, Wojek N, Cowan DA, Walker C. IRMS delta values (
13
C) of nandrolone and testosterone products available in the UK: Implications for anti‐doping. Drug Test Anal 2018; 10:1722-1727. [DOI: 10.1002/dta.2530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2018] [Revised: 10/15/2018] [Accepted: 10/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alan D. Brailsford
- Drug Control Centre, King's Forensics, Department of Analytical, Environmental and Forensic SciencesKing's College London London SE1 9NH UK
| | - Wan Noor Mahirah Majidin
- Drug Control Centre, King's Forensics, Department of Analytical, Environmental and Forensic SciencesKing's College London London SE1 9NH UK
| | - Nick Wojek
- UK Anti‐Doping Fleetbank House, 2‐6 Salisbury Square London EC4Y 8AE UK
| | - David A. Cowan
- Drug Control Centre, King's Forensics, Department of Analytical, Environmental and Forensic SciencesKing's College London London SE1 9NH UK
| | - Christopher Walker
- Drug Control Centre, King's Forensics, Department of Analytical, Environmental and Forensic SciencesKing's College London London SE1 9NH UK
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6
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Palermo A, Alessi B, Botrè F, de la Torre X, Fiacco I, Mazzarino M. In vitroevaluation of the effects of anti-fungals, benzodiazepines and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on the glucuronidation of 19-norandrosterone: implications on doping control analysis. Drug Test Anal 2015; 8:930-9. [DOI: 10.1002/dta.1897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2015] [Revised: 09/11/2015] [Accepted: 09/15/2015] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Amelia Palermo
- Laboratorio Antidoping; Federazione Medico Sportiva Italiana; Largo Giulio Onesti, 1 00197 Rome Italy
- Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologia del Farmaco; ‘Sapienza’ Università di Roma; Piazzale Aldo Moro 5 00185 Rome Italy
| | - Beatrice Alessi
- Laboratorio Antidoping; Federazione Medico Sportiva Italiana; Largo Giulio Onesti, 1 00197 Rome Italy
| | - Francesco Botrè
- Laboratorio Antidoping; Federazione Medico Sportiva Italiana; Largo Giulio Onesti, 1 00197 Rome Italy
- Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale; ‘Sapienza’ Università di Roma; Viale Regina Elena 324 00161 Rome Italy
| | - Xavier de la Torre
- Laboratorio Antidoping; Federazione Medico Sportiva Italiana; Largo Giulio Onesti, 1 00197 Rome Italy
| | - Ilaria Fiacco
- Laboratorio Antidoping; Federazione Medico Sportiva Italiana; Largo Giulio Onesti, 1 00197 Rome Italy
| | - Monica Mazzarino
- Laboratorio Antidoping; Federazione Medico Sportiva Italiana; Largo Giulio Onesti, 1 00197 Rome Italy
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7
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Hullstein I, Sagredo C, Hemmersbach P. Carbon isotope ratios of nandrolone, boldenone, and testosterone preparations seized in Norway compared to those of endogenously produced steroids in a Nordic reference population. Drug Test Anal 2014; 6:1163-9. [PMID: 25388436 DOI: 10.1002/dta.1745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2014] [Revised: 10/01/2014] [Accepted: 10/03/2014] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Determining the origin of anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) that also are produced endogenously in the human body is a major issue in doping control. In some cases, the presence of nandrolone and boldenone metabolites might result from endogenous production. The GC-C-IRMS technique (gas chromatography-combustion-isotope ratio mass spectrometry) enables the carbon isotopic ratio (CIR) to be measured to determine the origin of these metabolites. The aim of this study was to use GC-C-IRMS to determine the δ(13) CVPDB values of seized boldenone and nandrolone preparations to decide if the steroids themselves were depleted in (13) C, compared to what is normally seen in endogenously produced steroids. In addition, several testosterone preparations were analyzed. A total of 69 seized preparations were analyzed. The nandrolone preparations showed δ(13) CVPDB values in the range of -31.5 ‰ to -26.7 ‰. The boldenone preparations showed δ(13) CVPDB values in the range of -32.0 ‰ to -27.8 ‰, and for comparison the testosterone preparations showed δ(13) CVPDB values of -31.0 ‰ to -24.2 ‰. The results showed that the values measured in the nandrolone and boldenone preparations were in the same range as those measured in the testosterone preparations. The study also included measurements of CIR of endogenously produced steroids in a Norwegian/Danish reference population. The δ(13) CVPDB values measured for the endogenous steroids in this population were in the range of -21.7 to -26.8. In general, most of the preparations investigated in this study show (13) C-depleted delta values compared to endogenously produced steroids reflecting a northern European diet.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ingunn Hullstein
- Norwegian Doping Control Laboratory, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
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8
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Biddle STB, O'Donnell A, Houghton E, Creaser CS. Metabolism of norethisterone in the greyhound. RAPID COMMUNICATIONS IN MASS SPECTROMETRY : RCM 2013; 27:2229-2238. [PMID: 24019188 DOI: 10.1002/rcm.6689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2013] [Revised: 07/17/2013] [Accepted: 07/17/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE Norethisterone has been used as a successful oral contraceptive in humans for many years. It was recently permitted for use as an oestrus suppressant in racing greyhounds. To monitor the use of norethisterone as part of a routine drug surveillance programme, knowledge of its metabolism was required to enable detection. METHODS Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and selective derivatisation techniques have been used to identify urinary metabolites of norethisterone following oral administration to the greyhound. Metabolites were extracted using solid-phase and liquid-liquid extraction techniques. RESULTS Several metabolites were identified, including reduced, mono-, di- and trihydroxylated steroids. The major metabolites observed were 17α-ethynyl-5β-estrane-3α,17β-diol, 17α-ethynyl-5α-estrane-3β,17β-diol, three 17α-ethynylestranetriol stereoisomers and two 17α-ethynylestranetetrol stereoisomers. The major metabolites were predominantly excreted as glucuronic acid conjugates and detection of the administration of norethisterone was possible for up to 8 days post-dose using the methods described. The nandrolone metabolites, 19-norepiandrosterone, estranediol and 19-noretiocholanolone, were also identified in the post-administration samples collected up to 8 h after dosing the treated animals. CONCLUSIONS The urinary metabolites identified in this study have further increased the knowledge of steroid metabolism in the greyhound, providing information to support routine drug testing programmes for greyhound racing.
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Affiliation(s)
- S T B Biddle
- HFL Sport Science, Quotient Bioresearch, Newmarket Road, Fordham, CB7 5WW, UK
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9
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Buiarelli F, Giannetti L, Jasionowska R, Cruciani C, Neri B. Determination of nandrolone metabolites in human urine: comparison between liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. RAPID COMMUNICATIONS IN MASS SPECTROMETRY : RCM 2010; 24:1881-1894. [PMID: 20533318 DOI: 10.1002/rcm.4583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Nandrolone (19-nortestosterone) is an androgenic anabolic steroid illegally used as a growth-promoting agent in animal breeding and as a performance enhancer in athletics. Therefore, its use was officially banned in 1974 by the Medical Commission of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Following nandrolone administration, the main metabolites in humans are 19-norandrosterone, 19-norethiocolanolone and 19-norepiandrosterone, and their presence in urine is the basis of detecting its abuse. The present work was undertaken to determine, in human urine, nandrolone metabolites (phase I and phase II) by developing and comparing multiresidue liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) methods. A double extraction by solid-phase extraction (SPE) was necessary for the complete elimination of the interfering compounds. The proposed methods were also tested on a real positive sample, and they allow us to determine the conjugated/free fractions ratio reducing the risk of false positive or misleading results and they should allow laboratories involved in doping control analysis to monitor the illegal use of steroids. The advantages of LC/MS/MS over GC/MS (which is the technique mainly used) include the elimination of the hydrolysis and derivatization steps: it is known that during enzymatic hydrolysis several steroids can be converted into related compounds and deconjugation is not always 100% effective. The validation parameters for the two methods were similar (limit of quantification (LOQ) <1 ng/mL and percentage coefficient of variance (CV%) <16.4), and both were able to confirm unambiguously all the analytes, thus confirming the validity of both techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Buiarelli
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Università di Roma La Sapienza, P.le Aldo Moro, 5-00185 Rome, Italy
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10
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Annual banned-substance review: analytical approaches in human sports drug testing. Drug Test Anal 2010; 2:149-61. [DOI: 10.1002/dta.128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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11
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Abstract
This review attempts to give a synopsis of the major aspects concerning the biochemistry of endogenous androgens, supplemented with several facets of physiology, particularly with respect to testosterone. Testosterone continues to be the most common adverse finding declared by World Anti-Doping Agency accredited laboratories, such samples having an augmented testosterone to epitestosterone ratio. Knowledge regarding the precursors and metabolism of endogenous testosterone is therefore fundamental to understanding many of the issues concerning doping with testosterone and its prohormones, including the detection of their administration. Further, adverse findings for nandrolone are frequent, but this steroid and 19-norandrostenedione are also produced endogenously, an appealing hypothesis being that they are minor by-products of the aromatization of androgens. At sports tribunals pertaining to adverse analytical findings of natural androgen administration, experts often raise issues that concern some aspect of steroid biochemistry and physiology. Salient topics included within this review are the origins and interconversion of endogenous androgens, the biosynthesis of testosterone and epitestosterone, the mechanism of aromatization, the molecular biology of the androgen receptor, the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis, disturbances to this axis by anabolic steroid administration, the transport (binding) of androgens in blood, and briefly the metabolism and excretion of androgens.
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12
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Abstract
Nandrolone or nortestosterone, an anabolic-androgenic steroid, has been prohibited by doping control regulations for more than 30 years. Although its main metabolism in the human body was already known at that time, and detection of its misuse by gas or liquid chromatographic separation with mass spectrometric detection is straightforward, many interesting aspects regarding this doping agent have appeared since.Over the years, nandrolone preparations have kept their position among the prohibited substances that are most frequently detected in WADA-accredited laboratories. Their forms of application range from injectable fatty acid esters to orally administered nandrolone prohormones. The long detection window for nandrolone ester preparations and the appearance of orally available nandrolone precursors have changed the pattern of misuse.At the same time, more refined analytical methods with lowered detection limits led to new insights into the pharmacology of nandrolone and revelation of its natural production in the body.Possible contamination of nutritional supplements with nandrolone precursors, interference of nandrolone metabolism by other drugs and rarely occurring critical changes during storage of urine samples have to be taken into consideration when interpreting an analytical finding.A set of strict identification criteria, including a threshold limit, is applied to judge correctly an analytical finding of nandrolone metabolites. The possible influence of interfering drugs, urine storage or natural production is taken into account by applying appropriate rules and regulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Hemmersbach
- Norwegian Doping Control Laboratory, Oslo University Hospital, NO-0514, Oslo, Norway.
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13
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Current Awareness in Drug Testing and Analysis. Drug Test Anal 2009. [DOI: 10.1002/dta.5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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14
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Affiliation(s)
- Larry D Bowers
- United States Anti-Doping Agency, Colorado Springs, CO 80906, USA.
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15
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16
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Walker CJ, Cowan DA, James VHT, Lau JCY, Kicman AT. Doping in sport: 3. Metabolic conversion of oral norethisterone to urinary 19-norandrosterone. Steroids 2009; 74:341-9. [PMID: 19059424 DOI: 10.1016/j.steroids.2008.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2008] [Revised: 11/03/2008] [Accepted: 11/05/2008] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The detection of 19 norandrosterone (19-NA) in a competitor's urine sample is taken as prima facie evidence of administration of nandrolone or other 19-norsteroid but a potential problem is that administration of norethisterone, a progestogen used for menstrual disorders and for hormonal contraception, also results in the excretion of 19-NA that can exceed the laboratory reporting threshold of 2ng/mL. The contribution of norethisterone to urinary 19-NA with and without 19-norandrostenedione, a known norethisterone tablet impurity, requires evaluation. Preparations containing, either <2ng or 1microg 19-norandrostenedione impurity per 5mg of norethisterone, administered to female volunteers (n=10) in doses comparable to those used for menstrual disorders (5mg three times daily for 10 days), resulted in maximal 19-NA concentrations of 51 and 63ng/mL, respectively. The maximal concentration of 19-NA, 2h post-administration of a single 1microg dose of 19-norandrostenedione, was 2.4ng/mL. These results prove unequivocally that norethisterone is metabolized to 19-NA and that there is only a minor contribution from the impurity 19-norandrostenedione. Administration to women (n=30) of a single contraceptive tablet containing norethisterone (1mg) with one of the highest proportions of the impurity 19-norandrostenedione ( approximately 0.5microg, 0.05%, w/w) resulted in a urinary 19-NA concentration of 9.1ng/mL, with a maximum concentration ratio of 19-NA to the norethisterone metabolite 3alpha,5beta-tetrahydronorethisterone of 0.36. We provide data that should remove the need for time-consuming follow-up investigations to consider whether doping with 19-norandrogens has occurred.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher J Walker
- King's College London, Drug Control Centre, Pharmaceutical Science Research Division, Franklin-Wilkins Building, 150 Stamford Street, London, SE1 9NH, United Kingdom
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