Tetrahydrogestrinone: the discovery of a designer steroid

Curr Sports Med Rep. 2005 Aug;4(4):227-30. doi: 10.1007/s11932-005-0041-5.

Abstract

The use of steroids and other pharmaceuticals to gain a competitive edge in athletics has been present in the sports world for a long time. Over the past several years, scientific advances in the detection of sports doping agents and improved collaboration between sports organizations have enhanced the monitoring of fair athletic play. Many have suspected the illegal development of designer steroids by rogue scientists to avoid detection by the standard sports doping drug screen. In 2003, the Olympic Analytical Laboratory at the University of California, Los Angeles discovered the first designer steroid, tetrahydrogestrinone (THG), by using liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. Over the past year, the THG story continues to shock the sports world with its potential to discredit or terminate several high-profile athletic careers. While confirming the existence of designer steroids is credit to the sports antidoping movement, antidoping agencies will need to continue to invest in research and depend on honest athletic participants to maintain fairness and safety in sports.

Publication types

  • Historical Article

MeSH terms

  • Anabolic Agents / chemical synthesis
  • Anabolic Agents / history
  • Designer Drugs / chemical synthesis*
  • Designer Drugs / history*
  • Doping in Sports / history*
  • Doping in Sports / methods
  • Doping in Sports / prevention & control
  • Gestrinone / analogs & derivatives*
  • Gestrinone / chemical synthesis
  • Gestrinone / history
  • History, 21st Century
  • Humans
  • Sports Medicine / history
  • Sports Medicine / organization & administration
  • United States

Substances

  • Anabolic Agents
  • Designer Drugs
  • Gestrinone
  • tetrahydrogestrinone