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Home / Equine Research Bank / Drug Test Anal / Supramolecular Solvent Extraction for Doping Control Analysi...
Drug testing and analysis2026; doi: 10.1002/dta.70061

Supramolecular Solvent Extraction for Doping Control Analysis of Prohibited Substances in Horse Urine.

Abstract: Despite the recent success in introducing supramolecular solvents (SUPRAS)-based extraction to drug analysis, its application and robustness in day-to-day regular urine testing have yet to be demonstrated. Moreover, the applicability of SUPRAS in equine doping control testing remains unexplored. In this work, we have successfully developed for the first time a simple, rapid, inexpensive, and environmentally friendly SUPRAS extraction method for analyzing 76 prohibited substances of different classes (selective androgen receptor modulators, hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor antagonists, benzodiazepines, etc.) in hydrolyzed horse urine with liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC/MS) for detection. The developed 1,2-hexanediol-based SUPRAS-LC/MS method has been fully validated, and its applicability and robustness in day-to-day testing of horse urine have also been demonstrated. This work marks a significant milestone in the advancement of green and sustainable drug testing methodology in equine sports, offering a novel approach to address one of the complexities inherent in equine doping control.
© 2026 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
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Publication Date: 2026-03-11 PubMed ID: 41814125DOI: 10.1002/dta.70061Google Scholar: Lookup
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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 developed a new, simple, rapid, and environmentally friendly method for detecting 76 prohibited substances in horse urine using supramolecular solvent extraction combined with liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC/MS).
  • The method was validated and shown to be robust for routine doping control testing in equine sports, marking an advancement in green analytical techniques.

Background and Motivation

  • Doping control in horse racing is crucial for maintaining fair competition and animal welfare.
  • Existing methods for detecting prohibited substances in urine can be time-consuming, costly, or environmentally harmful due to solvent use.
  • Supramolecular solvents (SUPRAS) have emerged recently as a promising green extraction technique in drug analysis but had not been applied or validated for equine doping tests.
  • The study aimed to explore and validate the use of SUPRAS for extracting a wide range of prohibited substances from horse urine samples.

Methodology

  • The researchers developed a SUPRAS extraction method based on 1,2-hexanediol, a supramolecular solvent, to isolate prohibited substances from hydrolyzed horse urine.
  • The targeted analytes included 76 different banned substances from multiple classes such as:
    • Selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs)
    • Hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase inhibitors
    • Angiotensin II receptor antagonists
    • Benzodiazepines
    • And others
  • Following extraction, the substances were analyzed and quantified using liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (LC/MS).
  • The method was optimized to be simple, fast, cost-effective, and environmentally sustainable compared to traditional solvent extraction methods.

Results and Validation

  • The SUPRAS-LC/MS method demonstrated high extraction efficiency for the broad panel of substances.
  • Method validation showed it to be reliable and reproducible across multiple tests.
  • The validation parameters likely included sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, precision, and limits of detection consistent with doping control requirements (details can be found in the full paper).
  • The method showed robustness for routine analysis of horse urine samples, handling day-to-day variability in the matrices.

Significance and Implications

  • This work represents the first demonstration of supramolecular solvent extraction applied to equine doping control, expanding the application of green chemistry principles in sports drug testing.
  • The approach reduces reliance on hazardous organic solvents, making the testing process safer and more sustainable.
  • By enabling fast and affordable detection of a broad range of prohibited substances, it enhances the capability of regulatory bodies to effectively monitor illegal doping in horse racing.
  • This method could serve as a model for developing similar green extraction techniques in other doping control and drug analysis fields.

Cite This Article

APA
So YM, Kwok WH, Yuen SMS, Wong COL, Ho ENM. (2026). Supramolecular Solvent Extraction for Doping Control Analysis of Prohibited Substances in Horse Urine. Drug Test Anal. https://doi.org/10.1002/dta.70061

Publication

Drug testing and analysis
ISSN: 1942-7611
NlmUniqueID: 101483449
Country: England
Language: English

Researcher Affiliations

So, Yat-Ming
  • Racing Laboratory, the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Sha Tin Racecourse, Sha Tin, Hong Kong, China.
Kwok, Wai Him
  • Racing Laboratory, the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Sha Tin Racecourse, Sha Tin, Hong Kong, China.
Yuen, Stella M S
  • Racing Laboratory, the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Sha Tin Racecourse, Sha Tin, Hong Kong, China.
Wong, Celia O L
  • Racing Laboratory, the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Sha Tin Racecourse, Sha Tin, Hong Kong, China.
Ho, Emmie N M
  • Racing Laboratory, the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Sha Tin Racecourse, Sha Tin, Hong Kong, China.

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This article includes 21 references
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Citations

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