GW1516

March 20, 2009 - Institute of Biochemistry at the DSHS Cologne

(April 29, 2013 Note: The doping substances GW1516 and AICAR, listed under “Gene Doping,” were only listed under “Gene Doping” until the end of 2011. With the WADA Prohibited List effective from 2012, these substances have been moved to Group S4: Hormones and Metabolic Modulators.)

March 20, 2009: Researchers at the Center for Preventive Doping Research at the German Sport University Cologne have succeeded in developing the first detection method for a gene-doping substance.

For the first time, a gene-doping substance has been detected using mass spectrometry—just a few days ago, the journal Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry published this first mass spectrometric method for detecting GW1516.

The method was developed at the Center for Preventive Doping Research at the German Sport University Cologne by the research group led by Professor Mario Thevis and Professor Wilhelm Schänzer with financial support from the Federal Ministry of the Interior.

GW1516 is a so-called PPAR delta agonist that has only been on the doping list as a gene-doping agent since 2009. GW1516 is currently in advanced clinical trial phases and is being developed for the treatment of obesity and metabolic syndrome. However, GW1516 also leads to increased formation of so-called Type I muscle fibers ("endurance muscles") as well as enzymes for energy production from fats—this has been demonstrated in animal studies. In sports, this substance could be misused to enhance endurance performance.

The results of the Cologne research group show that the general assertion must be revised: that the detection of gene doping is still a long way off and can only be achieved through very costly research. The detection of gene doping substances—i.e., substances that influence gene expression—is already possible today using the methods available in doping laboratories.

The early development of detection methods—even before a doping-relevant substance is introduced to the market—is one of the main priorities of the Center for Preventive Doping Research at the German Sport University Cologne.

Further information:

Gene doping