The 34th Manfred Donike Workshop on Doping Analysis.

Abstract

Since 1983, advances in the field of doping control analysis have been presented, discussed, scrutinized, and disseminated annually at the Cologne Workshop on Dope Analysis, later referred to as the Manfred Donike Workshop on Doping Analysis after its founder Professor Manfred Donike following his death in 1995. A total of 19 scientists from 13 different countries attended the first Cologne Workshop held between 31 January and 4 February 1983. Over the years, the number of participants increased continuously to today's 130 international representatives, operators of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)-accredited laboratories. The 34th edition of the Workshop was held in Cologne between 21 and 26 February 2016 and continued the tradition of excellent scientific presentations that have enabled the advancement of state-of-the-art doping controls. These test methods encompassed the entire breadth of analytes relevant to sports drug testing programs, ranging from low molecular mass drugs to high molecular mass compounds, analyzed by mass spectrometric, biochemical, and immunological assays. This special issue on the occasion of the 34th edition of the Workshop particularly features studies concerning steroid profiling, steroid metabolism, and disposition,1-3 and peptide hormone analysis,4-7 which represented core areas of the 2016 conference. Emphasis was on expanding and improving information and options of steroid profile analyses and the utility of isotope ratio mass spectrometry, particularly concerning the misuse of testosterone in sport, as well as the identification of metabolites potentially offering superior target analytes in doping controls. Moreover, the necessity of enhancing test methods for higher molecular mass compounds such as erythropoietin, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), and sotatercept was highlighted to ensure comprehensive sports drug testing programs. Taken together, this compilation of papers composing this year's Cologne Workshop special issue on advances in sports drug testing once more mirrors and highlights the multifaceted nature of doping controls and related topics. While expanding test methods plays a major role in anti-doping research, a trend towards studies aiming at identifying situations that could affect doping controls is recognized8; it is expected to continue in the forthcoming years, especially in light of an increasing use of pattern-recognition methods in analytical sciences in general, and in doping controls in particular. Cologne, 09 October 2016