Abstract

Introduction: In our on-going study of nutritional supplements available on the South African market we came across a product called Coca Tea. According to the packaging the consumption of Coca Tea is an age old Inca tradition for medicinal purposes. Coca Tea is made from the leaves of the plant Erytroxylon coca. The alkaloids in the leaves of this plant are used for cocaine production. Our test results of this product showed the presence of cocaine in the Teabags. Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the concentration of cocaine in the Coca Tea and if the consumption of this tea will result in an anti-doping-violation. Method: The cocaine content in the Coca Tea was determined by GC/MSD using a liquid-liquid extraction of an aliquot of a cup of Coca Tea prepared with a single teabag in hot water. An excretion study with three healthy male volunteers was performed who each drank an individually prepared cup of Coca Tea. Fractional urine collection was done at prescribed intervals. The benzoylecgonine in the urine samples was quantified by LC-MS/MS using a dilute and shoot method which is used for the routine screening of diuretics. Results: The results showed that a bag of Coca Tea contains approximately 0.5 mg of cocaine. All the volunteers had urinary concentrations of benzoylecgonine above the WADA MRPL of 100 ng/mL for stimulants from 2 hours post administration. The urinary concentration of benzoylecgonine in subject 2 dropped below the MRPL value at 24 hours post administration while for subject 1 and 3 the concentration dropped below the MRPL at 36 hours post administration. The highest concentration of benzoylecgonine found in a sample was 2044 ng/mL at 6 hours post administration. Benzoylecgonine could be detected up to 48 hours in the urine samples. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that Coca Tea on the South African market contains cocaine and that drinking one cup of Coca Tea will result in an anti-doping violation for benzoylecgonine. Verf.-Referat