Cocktail drug usage and etofenamate detection in post-race equine urine sample: A case report.
Abstract: A recent trend in the use of high-resolution accurate mass screening (HRAMS) for doping control testing in both human and animal sports has emerged owing to significant improvement in high-resolution mass spectrometry in terms of sensitivity, mass accuracy, mass resolution and mass stability. Several HRAMS methods have been reported for the detection of multidrug residues in human or equine urine. These improved analytical technologies have led to changes in the use of prohibited substances, and the administration of more than one substance at low concentrations as a "cocktail" has become one of the methods used to alter performance in racehorses. In one of horse urine samples transferred to the analytical laboratory in Turkey for analysis, 5-hydroxymethyl meloxicam (2.96 ng/ml), etofenamate (2.15 ng/ml), flufenamic acid (108.92 ng/ml) and cobalt (200 ng/ml) were detected. These findings reveal that more than one prohibited substance was used together as a cocktail to alter the racing performance at low doses. In this case report, flufenamic acid was detected as a metabolite of etofenamate along with the parent drug. This case study also supports the advantages of metabolite analysis for anti-doping laboratories.
© 2022 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Publication Date: 2022-12-10 PubMed ID: 36426413DOI: 10.1002/bmc.5556Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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This research article discusses a case in which multiple prohibited substances were detected in a horse’s urine sample after racing, using the High-Resolution Accurate Mass Screening (HRAMS) method. It highlights the emerging trend of administering low doses of ‘cocktail drugs’ in horse racing to improve performance, and how improved technologies can aid in the detection of such practices.
High-Resolution Accurate Mass Screening (HRAMS)
- HRAMS is an advanced method used for doping control testing in both human and animal sports. It is increasingly being preferred due to its enhanced sensitivity, mass accuracy, mass resolution, and mass stability.
- This method has proven to be effective in the detection of multiple drug residues in human or equine urine, making it a valuable weapon against doping practices.
Drug ‘Cocktails’ in Racehorses
- The study identified a new trend in the use of prohibited substances, where more than one substance at low concentrations are administered as a ‘cocktail’ to enhance the performance of racehorses.
- The prohibited substances detected in the horse urine sample examined in the study included 5-hydroxymethyl meloxicam, etofenamate, flufenamic acid, and cobalt. The complex mix of these substances aims to boost performance while being hard to detect in standard tests.
Etofenamate Detection and Metabolite Analysis
- In this case study, etofenamate was detected along with its metabolite – flufenamic acid. Metabolites are substances formed in or necessary for metabolism.
- The detection of the parent drug (etofenamate) and its metabolite (flufenamic acid) together provides substantial evidence for the use of this prohibited substance.
- This finding illustrates the benefits of metabolite analysis, offering a more comprehensive and robust approach to anti-doping control measures in sports.
Cite This Article
APA
Kabil E, Göktaş EF, Güneş E, Yatanaslan L, Zor TA, Tektaş MH, İnceman B, Tufan M.
(2022).
Cocktail drug usage and etofenamate detection in post-race equine urine sample: A case report.
Biomed Chromatogr, 37(3), e5556.
https://doi.org/10.1002/bmc.5556 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Doping Control Laboratory, Istanbul Pendik Veterinary Control Institute, Istanbul, Turkiye.
- Doping Control Laboratory, Istanbul Pendik Veterinary Control Institute, Istanbul, Turkiye.
- Doping Control Laboratory, Istanbul Pendik Veterinary Control Institute, Istanbul, Turkiye.
- Doping Control Laboratory, Istanbul Pendik Veterinary Control Institute, Istanbul, Turkiye.
- Doping Control Laboratory, Istanbul Pendik Veterinary Control Institute, Istanbul, Turkiye.
- Doping Control Laboratory, Istanbul Pendik Veterinary Control Institute, Istanbul, Turkiye.
- Doping Control Laboratory, Istanbul Pendik Veterinary Control Institute, Istanbul, Turkiye.
- Doping Control Laboratory, Istanbul Pendik Veterinary Control Institute, Istanbul, Turkiye.
MeSH Terms
- Horses
- Animals
- Humans
- Flufenamic Acid
- Body Fluids
- Mass Spectrometry / methods
- Pharmaceutical Preparations
- Doping in Sports
- Substance Abuse Detection / methods
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