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Drug testing and analysis2024; 17(7); 1028-1033; doi: 10.1002/dta.3805

Emerging Human Medications in Racing Animals: Analytical and Regulatory Challenges.

Abstract: Positive identification and reporting of therapeutic substances intended for human consumption in race-day equine and canine samples is a controversial topic. While inadvertent environmental exposure is a potential cause for the presence of these substances in race-day samples, intentional use cannot be ruled out given their therapeutic benefits. Pregabalin is widely prescribed in Australia to treat epilepsy, anxiety, and neuropathic pain in humans; however, it is also increasingly used as a recreational drug. Metformin is commonly used to treat type 2 diabetes in humans. Both pregabalin and metformin have no routine use on racing animals and should not be present in race-day samples taken from healthy animals. They are prohibited substances under the Rules of Racing with no established screening limits. Although therapeutic levels for these substances have been established in humans, such information is not available for animals. Pregabalin and metformin are analytically challenging molecules, more so when they are extracted from biological matrices routinely screened for hundreds of other compounds simultaneously. A simple extraction, followed by a targeted Ultra High-Pressure Liquid Chromatography Orbitrap™ Mass Spectrometry method utilising a reverse-phase C18 column, is presented. This method is effective in screening for pregabalin and metformin, in addition to more than 150 other compounds of interest in equine and canine urines. The prevalence of pregabalin and metformin in race-day equine and canine urine samples in Western Australia was monitored using this method over 12 months. More than 4000 urine samples were screened, and four samples were confirmed positive for these substances.
© 2024 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
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Publication Date: 2024-09-19 PubMed ID: 39300607DOI: 10.1002/dta.3805Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

Overview

  • This research focuses on identifying and regulating the presence of human medications, specifically pregabalin and metformin, in racing animals such as horses and dogs.
  • The study develops an analytical method to detect these substances in race-day urine samples and evaluates their prevalence in Western Australia over a year.

Background and Importance

  • Human medications like pregabalin (used for epilepsy, anxiety, neuropathic pain) and metformin (used for type 2 diabetes) are increasingly found in race-day urine samples from equine and canine athletes.
  • Such substances have no approved therapeutic use in racing animals and are banned under racing rules.
  • Presence of these drugs in animal samples can be due to accidental environmental exposure or intentional administration for performance or therapeutic reasons, making this an important regulatory and ethical concern.
  • There are no established screening limits or therapeutic levels for these drugs in animals, although human therapeutic levels exist.

Analytical Challenges

  • Pregabalin and metformin present analytical difficulties because:
    • They have chemical properties that complicate extraction and detection.
    • They must be detected within complex biological matrices (urine) screened simultaneously for hundreds of compounds.
  • Effective separation and identification require sensitive and robust analytical methods.

Analytical Method Developed

  • The study presents a targeted Ultra High-Pressure Liquid Chromatography coupled with Orbitrap™ Mass Spectrometry (UHPLC-Orbitrap MS) method.
  • Key features of the method include:
    • Use of a reverse-phase C18 column to effectively separate the substances.
    • A simple urine extraction procedure suitable for high-throughput screening.
    • Capability to simultaneously detect pregabalin, metformin, and over 150 other compounds relevant to equine and canine doping control.
  • This approach enhances the screening efficiency and reliability in detecting banned human medications in race animals.

Study Monitoring and Results

  • The method was applied to monitor the prevalence of pregabalin and metformin in race-day urine samples collected in Western Australia over a 12-month period.
  • More than 4000 urine samples from racing horses and dogs were analyzed.
  • Only four samples were confirmed positive for these substances, suggesting a low but detectable presence.
  • The low positivity rate highlights both the rarity of contamination and the importance of sensitive analytical techniques for enforcement.

Regulatory Implications

  • The study underscores the need for:
    • Clear regulatory guidelines and screening limits for human medications in racing animals.
    • Improved understanding of environmental exposure vs. intentional administration to inform rule enforcement.
  • The analytical method provides regulators with a powerful tool to identify prohibited substances and maintain integrity in racing.
  • Detection of these substances can influence drug-testing protocols and penalties in the racing industry.

Conclusion

  • Human medications such as pregabalin and metformin pose both analytical and regulatory challenges in horse and dog racing.
  • The developed UHPLC-Orbitrap MS method offers a sensitive and efficient way to detect these drugs among many others in race-day urine samples.
  • This research supports enforcement efforts to prevent illicit drug use and protect animal health and welfare in competitive racing environments.

Cite This Article

APA
Dorakumbura BN, Beckett NM, Cook EC, Nolan AD, Brown D, Douglas B. (2024). Emerging Human Medications in Racing Animals: Analytical and Regulatory Challenges. Drug Test Anal, 17(7), 1028-1033. https://doi.org/10.1002/dta.3805

Publication

Drug testing and analysis
ISSN: 1942-7611
NlmUniqueID: 101483449
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 17
Issue: 7
Pages: 1028-1033

Researcher Affiliations

Dorakumbura, Buddhika N
  • Racing Chemistry Laboratory, ChemCentre, Bentley, WA, Australia.
Beckett, Nicola M
  • Racing Chemistry Laboratory, ChemCentre, Bentley, WA, Australia.
Cook, Elise C
  • Racing Chemistry Laboratory, ChemCentre, Bentley, WA, Australia.
Nolan, Ashley-N' Dene
  • Racing Chemistry Laboratory, ChemCentre, Bentley, WA, Australia.
Brown, David
  • Forensic Science Laboratory, ChemCentre, Bentley, WA, Australia.
Douglas, Bianca
  • Forensic Science Laboratory, ChemCentre, Bentley, WA, Australia.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Dogs / urine
  • Horses / urine
  • Doping in Sports
  • Metformin / urine
  • Metformin / analysis
  • Humans
  • Substance Abuse Detection / methods
  • Pregabalin / urine
  • Pregabalin / analysis
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / methods
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / urine

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