Nutritional supplements: Detection of undeclared doping substances

New publication: Detection of undeclared doping substances in nutritional supplements in the context of follow-up investigations concerning adverse analytical findings

September 22, 2021

Mareck U, Geyer H, Schertel T, Petring S, Krug O, Thevis M. Detection of undeclared doping substances in nutritional supplements in the context of follow-up investigations concerning adverse analytical findings. Drug Test Anal. 2021; 1-4. doi.org/10.1002/dta.3158

An evaluation of the results of the analysis of nutritional supplements (NS), which were received in connection with adverse analytical findings (AAFs) between 2014 and 2020 and which led to positive results was performed.  It could be shown that in 24 of 110 NS, doping substances not declared on the product labels were detected. Fourteen products were originally closed and sealed. The test results of 10 unsealed open products could not be verified by the analysis of the corresponding originally packed, sealed, and independently obtained product. 
The detected substances belong to various classes of the WADA Prohibited List. Most of them originate from the classes of anabolic androgenic steroids, other anabolic agents and specified stimulants but also diuretics and glucocorticoids were found. The roughly estimated concentrations in the NS cover a wide range, suggesting that some products were contaminated while others were most likely intentionally adulterated with prohibited substances. In most cases, the adverse analytical findings of the doping control urine samples could be traced back with a high probability to the consumption of the investigated NS.