Doping control analysis of antipsychotics and other prohibited substances in equine plasma by liquid...

Antipsychotics are banned substances and considered by the Fédération Equestrian Internationale (FEI) to have no legitimate use in equine medicine and/or have a high potential for abuse. These substances are also prohibited in horseracing according to Article 6 of the International Agreement on Breeding, Racing and Wagering (published by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities). Over the years, antipsychotics have been abused or misused in equestrian sports and horseracing. A recent review of literature shows that there is yet a comprehensive screening method for antipsychotics in equine samples. This paper describes an efficient liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) method for the simultaneous detection of over 80 antipsychotics and other prohibited substances at sub-parts-per-billion (ppb) to low-ppb levels in equine plasma after solid-phase extraction (SPE).