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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
There's less than one week left for you to submit your pre-application for a research grant or fellowship. The deadline to submit is February 1.

Submit your pre-application here:
cleancompetition.smapply.org
January 26, 2026 at 4:55 PM
pccantidoping.bsky.social
Authors examined the metabolism of Trestolone, a potent anabolic androgenic steroid that's prohibited in sport. They identified 2 novel metabolites that show promise for use in routine doping analyses to better detect Trestolone use.

analyticalsciencejournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
The 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, "Investigations Into the Human Metabolism of Trestolone (7α-Methyl-19-Nortestosterone)."
January 21, 2026 at 5:36 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
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
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
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 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 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 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
We're pleased to highlight a recent PCC-funded research project, led by Dr. Martin Bidlingmaier, to examine soluble alpha klotho (sαKL) as a potential marker of growth hormone (GH) doping. sαKL is a protein in blood & urine that is impacted in clinical conditions with excess or deficient GH levels.
The text reads, "PCC-Funded Research Spotlight, Grant Title: Soluble Alpha Klotho - A New Biomarker to Detect Growth Hormone Doping, Dr. Martin Bidlingmaier, Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich". There is a headshot photo of Dr. Bidlingmaier on the right above the text logo for the Partnership for Clean Competition.
November 28, 2025 at 7:41 PM
pccantidoping.bsky.social
"Brain doping" is gaining attention in sport, & this review identified only 9 studies on brain doping substances shown to ⬆️ sports performance. They also examined active ingredients that promote cognition in supplements to see how they fit w/in #antidoping rules.
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
This image shows details about the paper linked in the post. It was published in the journal Biology of Sport, and the article title is, "Brain doping" substances: prohibited or not in sports?
November 26, 2025 at 5:36 PM
pccantidoping.bsky.social
Dr. John Eiler is using #massspectrometry technology to identify the exact locations of isotopes in atoms in a PCC-funded research project to detect the molecular isotopic structures of substances in #antidoping samples.

Learn more in our latest podcast episode:
cleancompetition.org/anti-doping-...
There is a photo of Dr. John Eiler in the lower left. His name and titles are included in the bottom right. The text logo of the Partnership for Clean Competition appears at the top above the words, "The Anti-Doping Podcast". Below, there is a quote from Dr. Eiler's episode: "When you study in this way, you first of all have a highly specific fingerprint. Something that can’t be faked. Second, you have a very mechanistic fingerprint. It tells you how the system was being dysregulated. And third… it’s a persistent change that may be very easy to detect later than some of the more familiar tests. When they stop working, maybe our test will keep working.”
November 25, 2025 at 5:19 PM
pccantidoping.bsky.social
An increasing body of research supports that tDCS impacts endurance, strength, skill acquisition & perceived exertion. This recent editorial discusses how tDCS works, what we know about its ergogenic effects, & how it may fit within the framework of “neurodoping”. 🧪
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41078301/
This image provides details about the open access article linked in the post. It was published in the journal Advances in Clinical and Experimental Medicine, and the title of the article is, "Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS): A new, (still) legal form of "neurodoping" in sports?"
November 21, 2025 at 5:04 PM
pccantidoping.bsky.social
The synthetic steroidal SARM S42 is prohibited in sport due to potential performance-enhancing effects. To improve detection of S42 misuse, the PCC funded a research project, led by Dr. Mario Thevis, to investigate the metabolism of S42 to inform the development of new #antidoping detection methods.
The text reads, "PCC-Funded Research Spotlight, Grant Title: Investigations into the metabolism and detection of the novel SARM S42, Dr. Mario Thevis, German Sort University Cologne". There is a photo of Dr. Thevis on the right, above the text logo for the Partnership for Clean Competition.
November 21, 2025 at 4:51 PM
pccantidoping.bsky.social
Authors developed a rapid method using a CRISPR/CAS-based assay & double emulsion droplets to detect human erythropoietin gene doping. They validated the approach in spiked serum samples, & their results show excellent sensitivity & specificity. 🚫💊 🧪

advanced.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
This image shows more details about the paper linked in the post. It was published in the journal Advanced Science, and the title is, "Osmotically Tunable Microdroplets Enable Amplification-Free CRISPR Detection of Gene Doping".
November 19, 2025 at 6:16 PM
pccantidoping.bsky.social
Roxadustat has erythropoietic, cardioprotective, and metabolic regulatory effects and is prohibited in sport. This review details what we know about its mechanisms of action, legitimate clinical uses, how it can be detected in #antidoping analyses, and more. 🧪

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
This image provides details about the paper linked in the post. It was published in Current Issues in Molecular Biology, and the title of the paper is, "Roxadustat as a Hypoxia-Mimetic Agent: Erythropoietic Mechanisms, Bioanalytical Detection, and Regulatory Considerations in Sports Medicine".
November 14, 2025 at 4:33 PM
pccantidoping.bsky.social
PCC-funded research, led by Dr. Michael Polet, produced the 1st gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GCMS) initial testing procedure using an open high-resolution acquisition. Now labs can sensitively test for more prohibited substances w/ 1 method.

Learn more:
cleancompetition.org/anti-doping-...
The text reads, "PCC-Funded Research Spotlight, Grant Title: Comprehensive Detection of Doping Agents by Low Energy EI GCQTOF, Dr. Michaël Polet, Doping Control Laboratory, Ghent University". There is a photo of Dr. Polet on the right, and the text logo for the Partnership for Clean Competition is displayed below.
November 13, 2025 at 6:35 PM
pccantidoping.bsky.social
Time matters when an #antidoping lab has to process 100s or 1,000s of samples quickly for large sporting events. Biotage is innovating their products to increase efficiency and address customers' needs. Learn more from Esraa AboJasser & Dr. Lee Williams.

cleancompetition.org/anti-doping-podcast/161
There is a photo and quote from Esraa AboJasser, Market and Applications Manager in Analytical Testing at Biotage. This was from her episode of the Partnership for Clean Competition's Anti-Doping Podcast episode, "Biotage has long pioneered a diverse portfolio of advanced polymers and specialized chemistries. And today we continue to refine these technologies and innovate in the space... The innovation process at Biotage is really directly driven by the voice and the feedback of our customers. So we continue to focus on developing high quality solutions that are robust and reliable workflows that streamline the sample prep process for analysts, reducing any process bottlenecks and helping them save time."
November 11, 2025 at 9:06 PM
pccantidoping.bsky.social
hCG can ⬆️ performance by ⬆️ testosterone, & biotin can interfere with hCG lab tests. The PCC funded Dr. Miller to examine if biotin could be used as a masking agent in #antidoping tests. This work led to the discovery that biotin supplements can substantially ⬇️ urinary hCG values in immunoassays. 🧪
The text reads, "PCC-Funded Research Spotlight, Grant Title: Biotin as a masking agent for hCG use - a follow-up administration study, Dr. Geoffrey Miller, Sports Medicine Research & testing Laboratory". On the right there is a photo of Dr. Miller. Below, the text logo for the Partnership for Clean Competition appears.
November 6, 2025 at 6:30 PM
pccantidoping.bsky.social
Researchers examined the excretion of metabolites of the anabolic androgenic steroid metandienone (MD). They identified new metabolites & detected E3, a metabolite that could increase the detection window for MD in #antidoping analyses. 🧪

linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0960-0760(25)00129-3
The image shows details about the paper linked in the post. It was published in The Journal of steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. The title of the article is, "Reduced and rearranged metabolite structures after metandienone administration: New promising metabolites for potential long-term detection."
November 3, 2025 at 4:46 PM
pccantidoping.bsky.social
Every lab is different, and Biotage serves a wide range of labs around the world, including many #antidoping labs. Developing solutions that work for each lab's unique situation & needs is key for enhancing and advancing #cleansport.

Learn more in this episode:
cleancompetition.org/anti-doping-...
The text logo for the Partnership for Clean Competition appears at the top above the words, "The Anti-Doping Podcast". Below, there is a headshot photo of Monika Vezse, EMEA Market Segment & Application Lab Manager for Analytical Testing & Diagnostics at Biotage, as well as a quote from her that reads, "We are working with highly advanced centralized laboratories, while also partnering with emerging labs that face really different resource and infrastructure challenges. And our job here is to support both ends of that spectrum. And not just with the technology, but also the training, and method development, and long-term partnership to make sure that they can really rely on consistent and efficient workflows, whatever their situation is."
October 30, 2025 at 5:33 PM
pccantidoping.bsky.social
Authors retrospectively analyzed anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) in non-sport samples & reanalyzed 310 samples for additional AAS. Understanding patterns of drug use helps inform #antidoping education & public health policies. 🧪

analyticalsciencejournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
The image shows details about the open access paper linked in the post. It was published in the journal Drug Testing and Analysis, and the article title is, "Prevalence of AAS-Positive Samples at Drug Abuse Laboratory Sweden Between 2014 and 2023 and Sub-Study of Dual Use of AAS and Narcotics".
October 29, 2025 at 5:15 PM