Detection of clenbuterol residues in beef sausages and its enantiomeric analysis using UHPLC-MS/MS. A risk of unintentional doping in sport field

Clenbuterol (Clb) can be present in Mexico often but not all over the world in animal tissues and organs, therefore, potentially is derived from animal sources as well. The aims of this study were to develop and validate a method for detecting traces of clenbuterol in beef sausages. A calibration curve showed linearity in the range of 20–500 pg ml⁻¹. The limit of detection (LOD) and lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) were 5 and 10 pg g⁻¹, respectively. The analyte recovery was from 95.70% to 100.40% with an intraday relative standard deviation (RSD%) of 0.99%–2.10% and an interday RSD% of 0.54%–2.34%, R² = 0.9998. The methodology developed was applied successfully in 15 samples of beef sausage, and 73.3% of the samples tested contained racemic clenbuterol in concentrations between 30 and 471 pg g⁻¹. The UHPLC–MS/MS method developed combines high sensitivity with good selectivity and short chromatographic run time. Additionally, the enantiomeric analysis of clenbuterol performed in beef sausages showed a 59% for R‐(−)‐Clb and 41% for S‐(+)‐Clb. The presence of clenbuterol in beef sausages could represent a risk of unintentional doping in sport field, because the clenbuterol is a banned substance included in the World Anti‐Doping Agency's (WADA) list of prohibited substances.