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XXXV TIAFT Annual Meeting Poster Presentations
ANABOLIC STEROID 4-ANDROSTEN-3,17-DIONE: ABUSE AND DETECTION IN URINE

Uralets V.P., Gillette P.A., Latven R.K.

Quest Diagnostics Inc., 7470 Mission Valley Road, San Diego, CA 92108, USA

During the last few months we have observed a characteristic deterioration of the endogenous steroid profiles in athletes' urine at routine anabolic steroid (AS) testing. This is especially frequent in sports where the abuse of AS is the most likely. 4-Androsten-3,17-dione has recently become available in the US as a nutritional supplement and has been widely advertized in the bodybuilding media. This is an endogenous anabolic steroid, precursor of testosterone, and by definition is a banned sports drug. Urinary excretions of androstendione have been investigated, and typical metabolic patterns were observed.

Methods. Excretion studies with a single 50 mg oral dose were performed on healthy males with naturally "normal" testosterone/epitestosterone ratio (T/E) of approximately 1; and also with one representative of a minor population of low T/E=0.1, and with one very rare high T/E=5.5. Urinary steroids were analyzed before and after administration using standard technology: enzymatic hydrolysis of steroid glucuronides, solid phase extraction, enol-TMS derivatization, and GC/MS analysis. Free steroid fraction and sulfate conjugates were also analyzed.

Conclusions. A single oral dose of androstendione increases urinary concentrations of epitestosterone and especially testosterone and their principal metabolites by one-two orders of magnitude: androsterone, etiocholanolone, isoandrosterone, isomeric androstandiols and 11-hydroxyandrosterone/etiocholanolone. This effect lasted not more than 24 hours after administration. Androstendione increases T/E ratio. Some individuals exceed the cutoff level of 6 adopted in sports as an indication of testosterone abuse. However, naturally low T/E person showed T/E increase which remained below 1 during the course of excretion. Parent drug was not detected, however its direct 11-hydroxymetabolite is abundant in all cases.

  Abstract 153

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