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Methadone screening of racehorses
H W Hagedorn1, H Meiser, H Zankl
1Institute of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy, University of Munich, Germany.
Journal of Analytical Toxicology
|December 14, 1999
Summary
Methadone, a banned opiate, can be detected in racehorse blood for up to 24 hours after administration. This study suggests blood, not urine, is a reliable source for detecting methadone doping in horses.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Pharmacology
- Analytical Chemistry
- Equine Sports Medicine
Background:
- Opiate misuse in racehorses is linked to enhanced locomotor activity.
- Methadone, a narcotic analgesic, is a banned substance due to its potential use as a doping agent.
- Limited data exists on methadone detection in equine biological fluids.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate an immunoassay for detecting methadone in equine body fluids.
- To establish the detection window for methadone in horse blood and urine.
- To inform doping control strategies for methadone in racehorses.
Main Methods:
- Development of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for methadone screening.
- Confirmation of positive results using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).
- Intravenous administration of methadone (0.1 mg/kg) to horses followed by sample collection.
Main Results:
- Methadone was detected in horse blood for up to 24 hours post-administration.
- Methadone was not detected in urine, even with a sensitive detection limit of 10 pg/mL.
- The developed immunoassay combined with HPLC proved effective for methadone detection.
Conclusions:
- Urine is not a suitable matrix for methadone doping control in horses.
- Blood analysis is recommended for screening racehorses for methadone.
- This study provides crucial data for equine anti-doping programs regarding methadone.