Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

Evaluation of Testosterone/Epitestosterone Ratio Influential Factors as Determined in Doping Analysis

2000; Oxford University Press; Volume: 24; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1093/jat/24.2.102

1945-2403

Daan van de Kerkhof, Douwe de Boer, J. H. H. Thijssen, R. A. A. Maes,

Muscle metabolism and nutrition

The ratio of the concentration of testosterone glucuronide to the concentration of epitestosterone glucuronide (T/E ratio) as determined in urine is the most frequently used method to prove testosterone abuse by athletes. A T/E ratio higher than 6 has been considered as proof of abuse in the past; however, cases of naturally occurring higher T/E ratios have been described. Since the introduction of the T/E ratio in doping analysis, the parameters that may or may not influence the T/E ratio, possibly leading to false-positive results, have been debated. To achieve more insight on the influencing circumstances, an overview is given to obtain an objective view on the merits of the urinary T/E ratio. Relevant analytical aspects of the T/E ratio, potential parameters of endogenous and exogenous origins, as well as some alternative methods to determine testosterone abuse, such as the urinary testosterone/luteinizing hormone ratio, gas chromatography-combustion-isotope-ratio mass spectrometry, hair analysis, and high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, are discussed.