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Case Study: Doping Substances in Equestrian Food Supplements

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Abstract

In the course of investigations on equestrian supplemental products for the presence of doping substances, two products were found to contain forbidden substances. As reported earlier a plant extract (Mexican cactus extract) named “Energy 5” contained the anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) stanozolol, 17β-hydroxy-17α-methyl-5α-androstane-3β-ol (3β,5α-THMT) as well as mestanolone not declared on the label. In the present study, a product called “Super Kalm Paste” was tested. Analysis by gas chromatography - mass spectrometry (GC-MS) revealed that the preparation contained the class I anti-arrhythmics quinine (trade names KinidinTM, Durules) and cinchonine. The samples were prepared according to a sample preparation procedure established for anabolic steroids in nutritional supplements for humans. The sample treatment comprised the extraction and purification of the analytes as well as the chemical conversion with N-methyl-N-trimethylsilyl-trifluoracetamide (MSTFA) to yield the trimethylsilyl (TMS)-derivatives. To verify whether the administration of such products could lead to positive doping tests, a pilot excretion study on “Energy 5” was conducted with two geldings, and urine samples were collected. Gas chromatography - high resolution mass spectrometry (GC-HRMS) after solid phase extraction and mixed derivatisation has demonstrated the presence of the stanozolol metabolite 16β-hydroxy-stanozolol in urine samples after “Energy 5” application.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Biochemistry, German Sport University, Cologne, Germany

    M. Machnik, M. Parr, C. von Kuk & W. Schänzer

  2. Federation Equestre Nationale, (FN) Warendorf, Germany

    M. Düe

Authors
  1. M. Machnik
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  2. M. Düe
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  3. M. Parr
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  4. C. von Kuk
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  5. W. Schänzer
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Correspondence to M. Machnik.

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In Honour of Professor Edward Houghton: A Celebration of 30 Years in Racing Chemistry

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Machnik, M., Düe, M., Parr, M. et al. Case Study: Doping Substances in Equestrian Food Supplements. Chromatographia 59 (Suppl 1), S131–S135 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1365/s10337-003-0180-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1365/s10337-003-0180-x

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