Doping control analysis of small peptides: A decade of progress

Area of Science:

• Sports science
• Analytical chemistry
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Small peptides, including growth hormone releasing-factors and gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogues, are a distinct class of doping substances.
• The field of sports drug testing has seen substantial advancements in analyzing these peptides over the last decade.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the progress in liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS)-based methodologies for doping control of small peptides.
• To highlight the evolution of testing strategies in response to an increasing number of prohibited peptides and samples.

Main Methods:

• Application of liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) techniques.
• Implementation of high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) in routine anti-doping laboratories.
• Incorporation of metabolite and catabolite analysis into testing protocols.

Main Results:

• Significant improvements in the efficiency and performance of peptide doping control analyses.
• Simplification of testing methods without compromising analytical performance.
• Extended detection windows for certain peptides through the analysis of their metabolites/catabolites.

Conclusions:

• Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, particularly with high-resolution instruments, is the preferred technique for small peptide analysis in sports drug testing.
• The integration of metabolite detection enhances the effectiveness of anti-doping strategies by prolonging the detection period for prohibited peptides.
• Ongoing advancements are crucial for maintaining robust doping control in the face of evolving performance-enhancing substances.