The detection of new synthetic drugs in athlete's urine samples

Pharmaceutical preparations marketed for a specific therapeutic application in humans or animals can be abused by some athletes seeking performance enhancement. New drugs are also designed, synthesised and made available in some sport communities. Regularly, the list of compounds tested for in the laboratories involved in athletic drug testing is revised and updated. In this paper, we describe, with selected examples, the detection of new substances in athletes urine samples collected during doping control programmes. Clenbuterol and Zeranol used as a growth-promoters in the cattle industry, found their way in the performance enhancing therapeutic arsenal respectively a stimulant, a bronchodilator and as "anabolic" agents. Clenbuterol had known applications in humans while Zeranol was restricted to the veterinary use. Bromantan, a new substance developed in Russia a few years ago, was distributed in selected groups including athletes. It is now controlled by the sport authorities as a stimulant and a masking agent.