Abstract

Regarding the doping control field, three direct applications could be envisaged: i) Detection of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) target compounds. ii) Metabolic studies. iii) Detection of new drugs and their metabolites such as designer steroids. In this work, preliminary results in the detection of target compounds for doping control analyses obtained by using a GCxGC–TOFMS system are presented. This study has demonstrated the applicability of comprehensive GC coupled to Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry for the screening of the five key components declared illicit by the World Anti-Doping Agency and with the lowest purported concentration levels. The quality of the data obtained will also facilitate meeting the rigorous identification criteria set up by WADA for analytes in very low concentration. Moreover, the performance of further investigations an the attained separation would surely enable not only the identification of other important exogenous anabolic compounds of doping interest, but also their distinction from the endogenous ones. The ultimate goal will be to provide a tool for tracking designer drugs that may be used by athletes to circumvent present doping control analytical strategies. Aus dem Text