Screening for twenty-eight target anabolic-androgenic steroids in protein supplements using QuEChERS extraction...

Anabolic-androgenic steroids (AASs) are very potent muscle builders, and professional sportsmen often take protein supplements to improve their performance. Several studies have emphasised that protein supplements may contain undeclared AASs banned by the International Olympic Committee/World Anti-Doping Agency. The widespread occurrence and abuse of contaminated protein supplements is extremely dangerous because of their side effects. To minimise the chances of an unattended positive doping test or to avoid serious health problems, adequate screening methods for the detection of a wide range of steroids is essential. To address this requirement, a rapid and effective modified QuEChERS (quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged and safe) method was developed and validated to screen and quantify the simultaneous analysis of twenty-eight AASs in protein supplements using LC-MS/MS. The validated method was applied to 198 protein supplements collected from on-line and, off-line markets, and direct purchase from overseas between 2019 and 2020. Of the 198 samples, two samples contained testosterone and stanozolol at concentrations of 0.27 μg/g and 0.023 μg/g, respectively. In addition, 5α-hydroxylaxogenin was detected for the first time in three products purchased in Korea from overseas. The modified QuEChERS method was established and successfully applied to screen and determine AASs as a measure of continuous control and supervision in protein supplements.