Positiviness criteria for analysis of anabolic steroids by GC/MS in the urine of athletes

Abstract

The use of anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) in sports is in a constant increase among professionals athlets and amateurs. These substances were banned by the International Olimpic Committee and the doping control of this steroids are to be performed analysing biological samples taken from this athletes using gas cromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC/MS). This paper evaluates 15 AAS by means of liquid extration and subsequent GC/MS identification. Three of these AAS were also quantified. Correlation criteria among the AAS most characteristic ions were stablished for the evidence of positive samples: when comparing these ions to theose in the reference spectrum, the ion with the highest abundance is set as 100%. The relative intensity, compared to the same ion in the reference spectrum, higher than 20%, can alter up to 30%; between 10 e 20%, can alter up to 50% and lower than 10% can alter up to 90%. By using these criteria, it was possible to confirm the presence of AAE in eight urine samples taken from athletes who claimed the use of these compounds. It was also evident the importance of applaying positiviness criteria when analysing the presence of these substances in biological samples.