Detection of Over 110 Anabolic-Androgenic Steroids, Corticosteroids and/or Their Esters in Horse Hair Using Ultra-High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry and Gas Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry After Solid-Supported Liquid Extraction.
Abstract: Anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) are banned substances in both human and equine sports. They are often administered intramuscularly to horses in esterified forms for the purpose of extending their duration of action. As such, the detection of intact esters of endogenous steroids in hair is particularly advantageous, as it can provide unequivocal proof of their external origin. Compared with urine and blood matrices, hair in general allows a longer detection window as long as the administered drug can be incorporated into hair and has not degraded. This can be useful in doping control of equine sports, where the timing of sample collection may be critical due to the transient nature of AAS in other biological fluids. This paper describes the detection of AAS and/or their esters, as well as corticosteroids, in horse hair using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry (UPLC-HRMS) and gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) after solid-supported liquid extraction (SLE) at basic pH. The developed UPLC-HRMS and GC-MS/MS methods in combination allowed the detection of 117 AAS, corticosteroids and/or their esters with estimated limits of detection down to sub-ppb levels and with good inter-day precision. Method applicability has been demonstrated through the detections of (i) boldenone undecylenate, nandrolone phenylpropionate and trenbolone acetate in three proficiency testing hair samples and (ii) nandrolone as a metabolite in a post-administration hair sample collected from a castrated horse having been administered nandrolone decanoate.
© 2024 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Publication Date: 2024-12-10 PubMed ID: 39655796DOI: 10.1002/dta.3837Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The research article introduces a method for detecting anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) and corticosteroids in horse hair. The detection method combines ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography, high-resolution mass spectrometry, and gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.
Objective
The study aims at developing a reliable and efficient method for detecting anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS), their esters, and corticosteroids in horse hair. The focus is on enhancing doping control in equine sports by introducing a test with a more extensive detection window than that of urine and blood tests.
Methodology
- The development and combination of two robust detection methods, ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry (UPLC-HRMS) and gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS), are focused.
- These methods are applied after solid-supported liquid extraction (SLE) at a basic pH.
- The combined techniques allow for the detection of 117 AAS, corticosteroids, and/or their esters, down to sub-parts per billion (ppb) levels.
- The inter-day precision of the method is also found to be satisfactory.
Findings
- The study demonstrates the success of the methods by detecting boldenone undecylenate, nandrolone phenylpropionate, and trenbolone acetate in three proficiency testing hair samples.
- The methods also successfully detected nandrolone as a metabolite in a post-administration hair sample from a castrated horse that had been given nandrolone decanoate.
- This proves the potential of the combined methods as a vital tool in preserving the integrity of equine sports.
Significance
- The detection of AAS and corticosteroids in horse hair helps ensure fair competition in horse racing.
- With a more extended detection window, the timing of sample collection for doping control is more flexible, addressing the issue of the transient nature of AAS in other biological fluids.
- This method could potentially be applied in human sports, improving the accuracy and efficiency of anti-doping tests.
Cite This Article
APA
So YM, Kwok WH, Ching CCW, Wong COL, Wan TSM, Ho ENM.
(2024).
Detection of Over 110 Anabolic-Androgenic Steroids, Corticosteroids and/or Their Esters in Horse Hair Using Ultra-High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry and Gas Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry After Solid-Supported Liquid Extraction.
Drug Test Anal.
https://doi.org/10.1002/dta.3837 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Racing Laboratory, The Hong Kong Jockey Club, Sha Tin Racecourse, Sha Tin, Hong Kong, China.
- Racing Laboratory, The Hong Kong Jockey Club, Sha Tin Racecourse, Sha Tin, Hong Kong, China.
- Racing Laboratory, The Hong Kong Jockey Club, Sha Tin Racecourse, Sha Tin, Hong Kong, China.
- Racing Laboratory, The Hong Kong Jockey Club, Sha Tin Racecourse, Sha Tin, Hong Kong, China.
- Racing Laboratory, The Hong Kong Jockey Club, Sha Tin Racecourse, Sha Tin, Hong Kong, China.
- Racing Laboratory, The Hong Kong Jockey Club, Sha Tin Racecourse, Sha Tin, Hong Kong, China.
References
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