Towards an untargeted mass spectrometric approach for improved screening in equine antidoping.
The emergence of novel doping agents is a continuous issue for analysts who aim to maintain the integrity of horseracing together with the well-being and safety of the animals and riders involved. Untargeted mass spectrometric analysis presents a potential improvement for antidoping as it enables the detection of compounds being indirectly affected by an administered drug. In this study, liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry was used to investigate a 12-horse administration study of the synthetic opioid, butorphanol. A mass spectrometric workflow capable of detecting metabolic differences for an extended period of time was successfully developed. This proof-of-concept study demonstrates the potential of untargeted workflows to provide a list of biomarkers of exposure and effect that are indicative of drug administration which may be implemented into routine testing for improved doping control.
['Keen|Bethany|B|https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1955-2951', 'Cawley|Adam|A|https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3442-8617', 'Fouracre|Chris|C|', 'Pyke|James|J|', 'Fu|Shanlin|S|https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6238-3612']
mass spectrometry butorphanol doping control drug profiling