Doping detection in animals and equine sports

Gene doping refers to the use of agents to trigger a cell’s production of performance-enhancing proteins. A common gene-doping practice in horse racing involves the use of therapeutic oligonucleotides—such as oligomers or polymers of nucleic acids and nucleic acid analogues—to artificially enhance the physical performance of racehorses. This practice is a rising concern in horse racing, and it poses a serious threat to the integrity of horse racing and equestrian sports. The need is urgent for robust and precise detection methods to identify gene doping in horses.

To meet this need, SCIEX offers reliable LC-MS/MS solutions for confident detection of gene-doping agents and their biomarkers.

In recent years, the prevalence of performance-enhancing substances in animal sports, and particularly its use in horse racing, has become a growing concern. The use of these substances in animals to boost their physical performance can be harmful to both the health of the animal and the credibility of the sport, and for this reason, the ability to reliably detect and quantify performance-enhancing substances is crucial.

While analyzing these substances can be challenging due to the nature of the agents used for doping and their chemical diversity, LC-MS/MS provides the specificity and sensitivity required to detect trace levels of these substances from animal biological matrices. Discover how robust solutions from SCIEX can help you with your most challenging anti-doping workflows.