Implementation of steroidal passport: Experiences of Indian laboratory

Abstract

The Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) is an indirect approach which provides a complementary and more sophisticated strategy to traditional analytical testing in an effort to scientifically gather evidence of possible doping in sport. The ABP is one tool in a kit of intelligent anti-doping practices meant to deter and detect the use of prohibited substances in sport. In 2013, the WADA Athlete Biological Passport Guidelines introduced a second module, the Steroidal Module, which became operational since January 1, 2014. The Steroidal Module monitors an athlete’s steroidal variables over time that may be indicative of steroid abuse. This paper summarized the details of samples requested for confirmation on GC/C/IRMS in year 2015 & 2016 to understand the pattern of generation of Atypical Passport Finding Confirmation Procedure Request (ATPF-CPR). Interestingly, out of total 26 cases of ATPF-CPR received by NDTL, three samples with normal steroid profile showed exogenous origin of endogenous steroids on GC/C/IRMS analysis, which proves the effectiveness of Steroidal Module. In this context, monitoring of steroid passport through steroidal module represents the new paradigm in detection of exogenous origin of endogenous steroids. Keywords: ABP, Steroid Profile, SSPCPR, ATPFCPR, Endogenous, Exogenous.