Anti‐Dope Testing in Sport: The History and the Science

Abstract

This summer, as the XXX modern Olympic Games and the XIV Summer Paralympic Games were held in London, millions watched magnificent efforts from the best athletes in the world. The ability of the athletes to produce their best personal performances in the spotlight and the pressure of the Olympic Games was a testament to the human spirit. But, because the margin between winning and losing is so small, one imprecisely placed foot or hand, one moment of indecision, one gust of wind at the wrong moment, and the gold medal is gone. Behind the scenes at these Olympics—properly so— was a scientific team performing under great pressure to ensure safe and fair competition by testing urine and blood for traces of performance-enhancing prohibited substances and methods. Their efforts were crucial, because, in partnership with the clean athletes, they support the integrity and the spirit of sport. More than 1000 samples were analyzed within a few days after each event for stimulants, steroids, masking agents, recombinant proteins like erythropoietin and growth hormone (GH), and other substances on the World AntiDoping Agency (WADA) Prohibited List (1). The List of Prohibited Substances and Methods is maintained by a committee of internationally recognized scientists and sport administrators. A revised list is released annually by the WADA. In deciding whether to add a compound or method to the list, the committee considers whether there is potential to enhance performance; a potential health risk for the athlete; or if use of the substance or method violates the spirit of sport. If two of the three criteria are met, the substance is added to the Prohibited List. The inclusion of the word “potential” recognizes that a substance may emerge for which there are no toxicological data. For example, the identification of the “designer” steroid tetrahydrogestrinone (THG) in a drop of fluid in a syringe turned in to the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) in 2003 illustrates the problem. THG had been developed by Wyeth in the 1960s and taken to clinical trials as a potential anabolic agent, but never brought to market. It was impossible to locate any records from the clinical trials 40 years after the fact. THG had been shown to have anabolic activity (2). There were no publications about toxicological studies, but as a 17 -methyl steroid, comparison to similar structures strongly suggested the potential for some degree of hepatotoxicity. Based on this information, THG was added to the Prohibited List in 2006.