Abstract
Due to the current demands in the fight against manipulation of blood
and blood components, commonly referred to as “blood doping” in sports
drug testing, specific and sensitive detection methods enabling the
detection of prohibited substances and methods of doping are required.
Similar to illicit blood transfusions, erythropoiesis stimulating agents
have been shown to be misused in sport, aiming at improving an
athlete's aerobic capacity and endurance performance. Amongst other
strategies, the administration of ionic cobalt (Co2+) can
increase the number of erythrocytes by stimulating the endogenous
erythropoietin (EPO) biosynthesis. Conversely, several organic
Co-containing compounds such as cyanocobalamin (vitamin B12) are not
prohibited in sports, and thus, an analytical differentiation of
permitted and banned contributions to urinary Co-concentrations is
desirable. An excretion study with daily applications of either 1 mg of
CoCl2 or 1 mg of cyanocobalamin was conducted with 20
volunteers over a period of 14 consecutive days. Urine, plasma, and
concentrated red blood cells were analyzed for their cobalt content. The
samples were collected starting 7 days before the administration until 7
days after. Total Co concentrations were analyzed by using inductively
coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), which yielded significantly
elevated levels exclusively after inorganic cobalt intake. Furthermore, a
liquid chromatography (LC)-ICP-MS approach was established and employed
for the simultaneous determination of organically bound and inorganic
cobalt by chromatographic separation within one single run. The
analytical approach offers the option to further develop detection
methods of illegal Co2+ supplementation in sport.
Original language | English |
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Journal | Drug testing and analysis |
Volume | 12 |
Issue number | 11-12 |
Pages (from-to) | 1666-1672 |
Number of pages | 7 |
ISSN | 1942-7603 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 12.2020 |
Event | Manfred Donike Workshop on Doping Analysis - German Sport University of Cologne, Köln, Germany Duration: 09.02.2020 → 14.02.2020 Conference number: 38 |