Chemometric evaluation of urinary steroid profiles in doping control

Area of Science:

• * Sports Science
• * Analytical Chemistry
• * Biochemistry

Background:

• * Anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) misuse is a significant concern in sports doping control.
• * Traditional screening methods require robust analytical techniques for accurate detection.
• * Understanding endogenous steroid profiles is crucial for identifying exogenous AAS administration.

Purpose of the Study:

• * To develop and validate a multivariate statistical model for detecting AAS misuse.
• * To identify key endogenous steroid hormone ratios indicative of AAS use.
• * To improve the accuracy and efficiency of doping control screening procedures.

Main Methods:

• * Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) was used to analyze ten endogenous steroid hormones and metabolites in urine samples.
• * Samples from 105 healthy athletes (controls) and 23 AAS-positive athletes were analyzed.
• * Partial Least Square Regression (PLSR) was applied for multivariate data analysis and pattern recognition.

Main Results:

• * PLSR successfully distinguished between control and AAS-misusing groups with a clear separation in a 2D plot.
• * Testosterone/epitestosterone and androsterone/etiocholanolone ratios were the most significant indicators of AAS misuse.
• * The model showed preliminary validation for analyzing steroid profiles in diverse athlete populations.

Conclusions:

• * Multivariate PLS-regression is a valuable tool for detecting AAS misuse in sports.
• * This methodology can effectively differentiate drug misusers from controls in routine screening.
• * Calibrated models can directly identify AAS misusers from screening data, enhancing doping control effectiveness.