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pccantidoping.bsky.social
Partnership for Clean Competition
@pccantidoping.bsky.social
200 followers 51 following 660 posts
We support analytical/social scientists doing anti-doping research via grants, postdoctoral fellowships, tech transfer, & working groups. PIs worldwide may apply.
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pccantidoping.bsky.social
From elite athlete to elite educator, listen to our latest podcast episode to learn about Paralympian Greta Neimanas's experiences in sport and her transition to a career in anti-doping.

Listen to the full episode here:
cleancompetition.org/anti-doping-...
166 - Bringing the Athlete Perspective to Elite Anti-Doping Education - Greta Neimanas, PLY - PCC - Global Anti-Doping Research Grants for Scientists and Researchers
0.75x 1x 1.25x 1.5x 2x 0:0039:54 166 – Bringing the Athlete Perspective to Elite Anti-Doping Education – Greta Neimanas, PLY Apple PodcastsGoogle PodcastsPlayer EmbedShare Leave a ReviewListen in a Ne...
cleancompetition.org
January 20, 2026 at 4:21 PM
pccantidoping.bsky.social
Authors studied the impacts of altitude training at 2050 or 3000m on steroidal, endocrine, collagen turnover, & blood variables. Changes differed between altitudes, can confound ABP analyses, & may help interpret the Blood Steroid Passport & ABP endocrine module. 🧪

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41392343/
This image shows details about the article linked in the post. It was published in The Journal of Physiology. The title of the article is "Endocrine and androgenic response to altitude training in professional cyclists".
January 19, 2026 at 5:54 PM
pccantidoping.bsky.social
A method using an anti-EPO DNA aptamer could make it easier to interpret results of doping control analyses for erythropoietin-receptor agonists (ERAs) in blood samples. The aptamer-based method recognized recombinant ERAs w/o binding to endogenous EPO. 🚫💊 🧪

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Aptamer enrichment strategy for the detection of erythropoietin-receptor agonists in blood samples: A potential alternative to antibody-based assays
Optimal detection of Erythropoietin receptor agonists (ERAs) in anti-doping analyses relies heavily on efficient immunopurification (IP) strategies. W…
www.sciencedirect.com
January 16, 2026 at 6:47 PM
pccantidoping.bsky.social
Authors studied the amount of a muscle growth protein after oral clenbuterol (banned in sport), inhaled formoterol (allowed w/ limits) & resistance training. 2 wks of oral clenbuterol ⬆️ the protein. 6 wks of formoterol had no effect.

analyticalsciencejournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Clenbuterol, but not Inhaled Formoterol, Upregulates the Sarcomere Stabilizer KLHL41 to a Similar Extent as Resistance Training in Human Skeletal Muscle
This study shows that clenbuterol, a potent and heavily abused β2-agonist, induces KLHL41 expression—a sarcomeric myofibrillogenesis protein—in human skeletal muscle comparably to resistance training...
analyticalsciencejournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
January 14, 2026 at 5:25 PM
pccantidoping.bsky.social
Check out the latest episode of the Anti-Doping Podcast to hear from Head of Research Programs, Rusty Smith, as he discusses the PCC’s efforts to support its stakeholders, the grant and fellowship application process, and things to look forward to in 2026

cleancompetition.org/anti-doping-...
January 13, 2026 at 4:59 PM
pccantidoping.bsky.social
This study expands our knowledge of the metabolism of LGD-4033, a selective androgen receptor modulator (SARM) that is prohibited in sport. Authors elucidated the structure of known metabolites of LGD-4033 & identified a new, previously undescribed metabolite. 🚫💊 🧪
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41367083/
This image shows details about the paper linked in the post. It was published in the journal Drug Testing and Analysis. The title of the article is, "Further Insights Into the Metabolism of LGD-4033 in Human Urine. Part 1. Structure Elucidation of Additional Important Metabolites".
January 12, 2026 at 8:02 PM
pccantidoping.bsky.social
This in vitro study on the metabolism of synthetic steroids by liver microsomes (membrane-bound vesicles from liver cells), provides important insight on the metabolism of synthetic steroids that can help interpret analyses of metabolites in urine samples. 🚫💊 🧪

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
In vitro metabolic profiling of 6-chloro-testosterone and 6-ene-testosterone by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and gas chromatography-time of flight (GC-TOF) mass spectrometry
Among the phase-I reactions of 6-chloro-testosterone (6-CT), the reductive and oxidative dehalogenation, as well as the dehydrogenation, have been des…
www.sciencedirect.com
January 9, 2026 at 4:34 PM
pccantidoping.bsky.social
Scientists developed and validated a procedure to isolate, purify, and analyze endogenous steroids in urine samples using gas chromatography–combustion–isotope ratio mass spectrometry, customizing the workflow to enhance and simplify steroid detection. 🚫💊 🧪

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41267339/
This image shows details about the paper in the post. It was published in Drug Testing and Analysis, and the title is, "Carbon Isotope Ratio Analysis of Urinary Steroids Following Extensive Cleanup and Formylation".
January 8, 2026 at 6:26 PM
pccantidoping.bsky.social
Don't miss your chance to apply for a research grant or fellowship in our upcoming application cycle! Pre-applications are due on February 1st.

Submit your application here:
cleancompetition.smapply.org
January 7, 2026 at 6:18 PM
pccantidoping.bsky.social
Listen to our latest podcast episode featuring the Head of Research Programs, Rusty Smith, as he details the logistics of PCC collaborations, the grant review process and our upcoming grant deadline, and other exciting opportunities coming in 2026.

cleancompetition.org/anti-doping-...
Anti-doping Podcast - Partnership for Clean Competition
cleancompetition.org
January 6, 2026 at 6:41 PM
pccantidoping.bsky.social
In this PCC-funded research project, authors found that neither intravenous iron nor erythropoietin (EPO) treatment improved hemoglobin mass, exercise performance, or acute mountain sickness, compared to placebo, during a 14-day period at high altitude. 🧪

journals.physiology.org/doi/full/10....
Impact of intravenous iron or exogenous erythropoietin on hemoglobin mass, exercise performance, and acute mountain sickness during altitude acclimatization | Journal of Applied Physiology | American ...
Chronic exposure to high altitude leads to increases in hemoglobin mass (Hbmass), which may improve exercise performance and decrease acute mountain sickness (AMS) symptoms. We evaluated the influence...
journals.physiology.org
January 5, 2026 at 5:00 PM
pccantidoping.bsky.social
Probiotics are used widely to manage various conditions, including urinary tract and vaginal infections. This study found vaginal probiotics don't substantially affect urinary steroid markers and the Athlete Biological Passport. 🚫💊 🧪

analyticalsciencejournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Assessing the Effect of Probiotics in the Steroidal Module of the Athlete's Biological Passport
Analyses of in vitro and in vivo experiments suggest that vaginal probiotics do not substantially affect urinary steroid markers and the Athlete Biological Passport. Some variations were observed tha...
analyticalsciencejournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
January 2, 2026 at 6:40 PM
pccantidoping.bsky.social
Authors developed & validated a protocol to improve erythropoietin (EPO) gene doping detection using dried blod spots (DBS). Polymer-based DBS cards were most effective, & the EPO transgene was detected with just 100 copies/20-μL DBS via the @tassoinc.bsky.social M-20 device. 🧪
tinyurl.com/mwephas4
The image provides details about the paper linked in the post. It was published in the journal Drug Testing and Analysis, and the title of the article is, "Improvement of EPO Transgene Detection From Polymeric Dried Blood Spots for Antidoping Application".
December 30, 2025 at 6:51 PM
pccantidoping.bsky.social
This study examined the impact of oral and transdermal testosterone administration on phase II metabolites in both men and women. Results showed variability was higher in women due to lower steroid concentrations and menstrual cycle-related fluctuations. 🚫💊 🧪

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Evaluation of endogenous steroid sulfates and glucuronides in urine after oral and transdermal administration of testosterone. Part II: Female participants
Detecting testosterone (T) doping remains a significant challenge, driving the search for novel biomarkers and advancements in the steroidal Athlete’s…
www.sciencedirect.com
December 29, 2025 at 6:56 PM
pccantidoping.bsky.social
This review explores current and potential roles that #metabolomics can play in #antidoping, and how pairing it with machine learning could enhance our ability to detect patterns, classify samples, and detect anomalies.

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...

#machinelearning #ML #AI #science
This image shows details about the article linked in the post. It was published in the journal Metabolites, and the title of the article is, "Integrating Advanced Metabolomics and Machine Learning for Anti-Doping in Human Athletes".
December 26, 2025 at 7:43 PM
pccantidoping.bsky.social
Dr. Daniel Westmattelmann shares his recently published work using simulations to study the impacts of sample retention & re-analysis on doping behavior and doping detection.

Listen to the full episode here:
cleancompetition.org/anti-doping-...

#antidoping #podcast #cleansport #research #science
This image shows a headshot photo of Daniel in the lower right corner and a quote from the podcast episode: "Because we can't run controlled experiments on the whole anti-doping system, because we cannot really measure the real doping prevalence, we use a so-called social simulation and thereby we were able to create a computer simulation, like a virtual population of athletes. There we can measure what effect difference anti-doping measures have on the population level. There we can really transparently measure what is the impact on the real prevalence rate but also the effect on the detection rate."
December 23, 2025 at 3:35 PM
pccantidoping.bsky.social
Authors found a new metabolite (M8) of the SARM LGD-4033 that is detectable up to 6 days post-administration. Analyzing M8 & other long-term metabolites may help estimate LGD-4033 intake time & distinguish between standard doping dosing, micro-dosing & inadvertent exposure. 🚫💊 🧪
tinyurl.com/mrdwyxjd
Further Insights Into the Metabolism of LGD‐4033 in Human Urine. Part 2. A New Minor Metabolite With Antagonistic Activity on the Androgen Receptor Can Indicate Recent Substance Intake
A novel early excreted minor metabolite of LGD-4033 was detected and coded as M8. Its presence was evaluated as an indicator of recent substance intake versus end-tail findings. Additionally, the ago...
analyticalsciencejournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
December 22, 2025 at 6:06 PM
pccantidoping.bsky.social
The American College of Sports Medicine provides an update to its position stance on blood doping for the first time since 1996, due to emerging blood doping threats and significant technological advances in anti-doping practices.

lnkd.in/gBN9cxJR
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December 19, 2025 at 7:33 PM
pccantidoping.bsky.social
Authors found a metabolite ratio that differed between methyltestosterone (MT) administration routes & could inform interpretation of results. The detection window was much shorter for MT in dried blood spots vs metabolites in urine.
analyticalsciencejournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1...
This image shows details about the paper linked in the post. It was published in the journal Drug Testing and Analysis, and the title of the paper is, "Distinguishing Between Oral and Transdermal Administration Routes of Methyltestosterone Through Human Urine and Dried Blood Spot Analyses for Doping Control Purposes".
December 19, 2025 at 3:11 PM
pccantidoping.bsky.social
What are the benefits of remote sampling in #antidoping ? Dr. Daniel Westmattelmann discusses his transition from a professional cyclist to anti-doping research, as well as the outcomes of his PCC-funded project to implement a remote sampling system.

cleancompetition.org/anti-doping-...
164 - Investigating Remote Sampling, Sample Retention and Re-Analysis, and Athlete Experiences in Anti-Doping - Daniel Westmattelmann, PhD - PCC - Global Anti-Doping Research Grants for Scientists and...
0.75x 1x 1.25x 1.5x 2x 0:0042:53 164 – Investigating Remote Sampling, Sample Retention and Re-Analysis, and Athlete Experiences in Anti-Doping – Daniel Westmattelmann, PhD Apple PodcastsGoogle Podcast...
cleancompetition.org
December 17, 2025 at 4:44 PM
pccantidoping.bsky.social
In this PCC-funded project, authors examined the urinary excretion profile of trenbolone and its metabolites after oral, transdermal, and buccal administration. They identified a metabolite that was more abundant after transdermal and buccal administration. 🚫💊 🧪
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
The influence of the route of drug administration on the metabolic profile of trenbolone in doping control urine samples
Advances in analytical techniques have markedly improved the detection of anabolic–androgenic steroids (AAS) in doping controls. This represents a maj…
www.sciencedirect.com
December 15, 2025 at 7:06 PM
pccantidoping.bsky.social
Authors developed & validated a high-throughput method to screen for 30 steroid esters and a confirmatory method for 26 targets using dried blood spots. This could be an efficient, sensitive, & automated way to differentiate between endogenous & synthetic steroids. 🚫💊 🧪

pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...
Modified Fully Automated Dried Blood Spot Sample Preparation System and Its Application in Steroid Ester Detection
The detection of anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) remains a significant challenge in antidoping, particularly in distinguishing endogenous steroids from their synthetic counterparts. Although isotop...
pubs.acs.org
December 12, 2025 at 3:54 PM
pccantidoping.bsky.social
How can we make the most of limited resources in #antidoping? Authors developed a framework that assesses the potential performance-enhancing effects of substance categories across 6 physiological demands & maps the effects to the physiological profiles of 160 sport disciplines.
tinyurl.com/muxtah38
Mapping of the Pharmacological Effect of Prohibited Substances and Methods to Athletic Physiological Characteristics
Expected performance benefits for each prohibited substance/method has been presented. Several disciplines are highlighted as an example. The y$$ y $$-axis is ordered by the median benefit score.
analyticalsciencejournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
December 10, 2025 at 4:51 PM
pccantidoping.bsky.social
What does it take to run a successful WADA-accredited anti-doping lab? Dr. Rosa Ventura Alemany provides a behind-the-scenes look at the excellent work she & colleagues are doing at the Catalonian #Antidoping Laboratory in research & routine testing. 👩‍🔬 🧪

cleancompetition.org/anti-doping-podcast/163
The image features a headshot photo of Rosa Ventura Alemany, PhD, Director of the Catalonian Anti-Doping Laboratory, as well as a quote from her interview on the Partnership for Clean Competition's Anti-Doping Podcast: "Running an accredited lab is extremely demanding. It operates in a highly regulated environment, and we are always in a process of continuous improvement. We constantly have to keep up with new substances and analytical methods, maintaining the highest scientific standards. We also need to invest heavily in advanced instruments and also in skilled staff. In addition, our results must be legally defensible. On top of that, we handle a large number of samples under tight deadlines. It means that the lab has to always work under perfect conditions."
December 9, 2025 at 6:04 PM
pccantidoping.bsky.social
Growth hormone-releasing hormone & synthetic analogs are prohibited in sport, but hard to detect w/ traditional urine analyses. Authors developed & validated a new method & workflow that is sensitive, specific & reliable for detecting & confirming the target peptides in urine. 🧪
tinyurl.com/48hxtv38
Analysis of growth hormone releasing hormone and its analogs in urine using nano liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole/orbitrap mass spectrometry
Growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) and its synthetic analogs are considered performance-enhancing substances and are therefore prohibited by the …
www.sciencedirect.com
December 4, 2025 at 5:14 PM