Partnership For Clean Competition

Directions Website Contact the organization

Partnership For Clean Competition Supporting Anti-doping Research and Development. Preserving the Integrity of clean athletes.

Use of serum, dried blood spot, and capillary blood samples in anti-doping is becoming more practical and cost-effective...
10/09/2026

Use of serum, dried blood spot, and capillary blood samples in anti-doping is becoming more practical and cost-effective with technological and analytical advances.

How can the field benefit from this shift from a heavier reliance on urine samples to increasing the collection of blood samples?

In this perspective article, authors share how blood-based matrices are better suited for detecting certain types of prohibited substances and tracking relevant biomarkers in the Athlete Biological Passport, as well as how matrix selection affects detection and analysis.

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/17576180.2026.2736404

Senior author Dr. Nicolas Leuenberger has received PCC funding to support his research.

Small differences in the chemical structure of anabolic steroids can affect how they are metabolized in the body and our...
10/07/2026

Small differences in the chemical structure of anabolic steroids can affect how they are metabolized in the body and our ability to detect them in anti-doping samples.

Researchers compared the metabolism of the synthetic steroids 4-chlorotestosterone (clostebol, 4-CT) and 6α-chlorotestosterone (6-CT). Despite differing only in the position of one chlorine atom, the two drugs produced notably different metabolic profiles.

However, a metabolite of 6-CT can be difficult to distinguish from a main metabolite of 4-CT under common analytical conditions, highlighting the importance of careful analysis for anti-doping purposes.

https://analyticalsciencejournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/dta.70153

Senior author Dr. Francesco Botre has previously received PCC funding for his research.

From an NBA hopeful to law school to sports and entertainment, and now a PCC Board Member, Stephen Starks has done it al...
10/06/2026

From an NBA hopeful to law school to sports and entertainment, and now a PCC Board Member, Stephen Starks has done it all. Stephen sits on the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency’s (USADA) Board of Directors and now represents USADA on the PCC’s Board of Governors. Don’t miss our latest podcast episode where we talk with Stephen about his career and what it means to him to be an advocate for clean competition in sport.

Listen to the full episode here:
http://cleancompetition.org/anti-doping-podcast/182

Microsampling approaches address many of the downsides of traditional blood draws, but smaller sample volumes also intro...
10/05/2026

Microsampling approaches address many of the downsides of traditional blood draws, but smaller sample volumes also introduce analytical challenges. This recent review article examines innovations and advances in microsampling techniques, technologies, sample preparation, and analyses. These include microsampling devices used in anti-doping testing and use of new analytical workflows to detect protein and peptide doping agents.

https://pubs.rsc.org/ay/article/doi/10.1039/d6ay00944a/1312760/Microsampling-of-proteins-from-biological-matrices

Lead author Dr. Trine Grønhaug Halvorsen previously received funding from the PCC to support her research, and you can learn more about her work in this episode of The Anti-Doping Podcast:

https://cleancompetition.org/anti-doping-podcast/151

The synthetic peptide retatrutide is currently undergoing clinical trials as a treatment for obesity type 2 diabetes, bu...
10/01/2026

The synthetic peptide retatrutide is currently undergoing clinical trials as a treatment for obesity type 2 diabetes, but the potential metabolic and weight loss effects of this drug make in relevant for anti-doping as well.

Researchers developed analytical methods to detect retatrutide, and they documented the excretion profiles in plasma and urine. The drug was only detectable in plasma samples (not urine), and it could still be detected 49 days after the second/final dose in all participants. Their results establish plasma as the appropriate matrix to detect retatrutide use and highlight its long detection window.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13578828/

We're excited to share findings from this PCC-funded research project, led by Dr. John Eiler. Dr. Eiler and his team dev...
09/30/2026

We're excited to share findings from this PCC-funded research project, led by Dr. John Eiler. Dr. Eiler and his team developed an orbitrap-based mass spectrometry method for identifying the molecular isotopic structures of steroids.

These methods provide multidimensional isotope fingerprints that could complement current anti-doping analyses by helping identify the sources of steroids in anti-doping samples.

https://pubs.acs.org/ancham/article/98/38/28201/5429716/Fragment-Resolved-Carbon-and-Hydrogen-Isotope

Dr. Eiler shared more about his research in our recent episode of the Anti-Doping Podcast: https://cleancompetition.org/anti-doping-podcast/162

Steroids have long been banned for elite athletes, but the risks of using them go beyond sitting out from competition. I...
09/29/2026

Steroids have long been banned for elite athletes, but the risks of using them go beyond sitting out from competition. In our recent podcast episode, we talked with Dr. Aaron Baggish about what’s really at stake for athletes who use performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs). He shared insights on the long-term consequences of PED use, and why PED use under the supervision of medical professionals doesn’t necessarily make it safer.

Listen to the full episode here: cleancompetition.org/anti-doping-podcast/181

The initial screening plus follow-up testing procedures for testosterone and testosterone metabolites in anti-doping sam...
09/25/2026

The initial screening plus follow-up testing procedures for testosterone and testosterone metabolites in anti-doping samples can be time consuming for labs. Researchers developed and validated methods using supercritical fluid chromatography that expedite separation and evaporation steps. Results using this new method were comparable to those obtained using commonly-used HPLC-based procedures.

https://analyticalsciencejournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/dta.70150

Senior author Dr. Mario Thevis has previously received PCC funding for his research.

The PCC is heading to Chattanooga for the 2026 Science Symposium hosted by one of our founding members, the U.S. Anti-Do...
09/24/2026

The PCC is heading to Chattanooga for the 2026 Science Symposium hosted by one of our founding members, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency. We’re looking forward to a weekend full of updates, findings, and real-world anti-doping applications from some of the top labs and researchers globally.

Visit USADA's website to learn more about the role they play in anti-doping science, research, and innovation:

https://www.usada.org/science-research/

Steroids are one of the most common substances of abuse for athletes who choose to dope, but improved performance doesn’...
09/22/2026

Steroids are one of the most common substances of abuse for athletes who choose to dope, but improved performance doesn’t come without a cost.

In our new podcast episode, we took a deep dive with Dr. Aaron Baggish to discuss what athletes are truly risking when they decide to use steroids or other performance-enhancing drugs. Aaron is a sports cardiologist, and he shared some factors that may lead an athlete to dope, the intricacies of therapeutic use exemptions, and some of the detrimental long-term effects of PED use.

Listen to the full episode here:
http://cleancompetition.org/anti-doping-podcast/181

Address

Colorado Springs, CO
80909

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Partnership For Clean Competition posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Partnership For Clean Competition:

Shortcuts

Sponsored

Share

Category