Partnership For Clean Competition

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

We know exercise affects steroid hormone levels in blood, but how does this impact how we interpret values from the bloo...
06/04/2026

We know exercise affects steroid hormone levels in blood, but how does this impact how we interpret values from the blood steroid profile of the Athlete Biological Passport?

In this PCC-funded research project, scientists examined the acute effects of real-world football (soccer) training on 26 circulating steroids in blood. They reported rapid changes in key steroid hormone biomarkers, including the testosterone-to-androstenedione ratio, that were related to training loads and perceived exertion.

Results from this study emphasize the importance of considering recent training exposure when interpreting variations in the Athlete Biological Passport.

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40279-026-02467-8

First author Dr. Federico Ponzetto is a former PCC Fellow and Research Grant recipient, and we are proud to have supported him as an early-career researcher. The PCC's Fellowship program plays an important role in helping promising trainees in anti-doping science continue on to become leaders who make long-term contributions to the field.

Doping control relies on timely detection and identification of performance-enhancing substances. Dr. Michael Zimmerman ...
06/03/2026

Doping control relies on timely detection and identification of performance-enhancing substances. Dr. Michael Zimmerman sought to improve this process in his PCC-funded project “Use of LC-MS/MS and Molecular Networking for the Open Detection of novel performance-enhancing steroids.”

His study proposed and established the feasibility of a novel approach to identify unknown androgenic anabolic steroids (AAS) through a combination of MS/MS prediction and molecular networking of simulated and experimental data.

This approach showed promise for clustering and classifying AAS based on their structural features and for predicting how they may break apart during metabolism. Dr. Zimmerman and his team have compiled a theoretical database of more than 1,400 steroids and their predicted metabolites to help identify previously undescribed steroids.

Hormones encompass various substances that can have powerful performance-enhancing effects through different mechanisms ...
05/29/2026

Hormones encompass various substances that can have powerful performance-enhancing effects through different mechanisms (e.g. steroids, EPO, and growth hormone). This book provides an overview of the state of hormone doping in sport, types of hormones used for performance enhancement, analytical challenges, and important gaps in the field.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK305894/

The author David Handelsman has received PCC funding to support his research.

Does doping behavior develop over time, beginning with the use of supplements that athletes believe may impact performan...
05/27/2026

Does doping behavior develop over time, beginning with the use of supplements that athletes believe may impact performance? Researchers examined how athletes' use of and beliefs surrounding supplements were related to doping attitudes. While the associations were weak, their findings support the incremental model of doping behavior and suggest that athletes who are young, male, and non-competitive may be particularly vulnerable.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13119637/

A review of 44 studies on prohibited substances and adulterants in dietary supplements found that approximately 9-15% of...
05/22/2026

A review of 44 studies on prohibited substances and adulterants in dietary supplements found that approximately 9-15% of the commercially available supplements tested were contaminated with prohibited substances and/or unapproved drugs (most commonly stimulants and anabolic agents).

Their findings highlight the magnitude of the contamination issue, the need for improved manufacturing and labeling practices, and the potential exposure risks for athletes and others who consume supplements.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13021601/

Qatar Anti Doping Agency

Accurate estimates of the use of performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) can inform the development of more effective anti-do...
05/20/2026

Accurate estimates of the use of performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) can inform the development of more effective anti-doping programs. Researchers identified demographic and attitude-related factors closely linked to use of PEDs, and they developed a new statistical approach for estimating the prevalence of PED use. Their approach does not rely on self-report surveys of PED use, and the estimated prevalence was higher than estimates using direct questioning methods.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13019719/

We have some exciting projects underway following our first round of applications for the year. Among those ongoing proj...
05/19/2026

We have some exciting projects underway following our first round of applications for the year. Among those ongoing projects is a study by Dr. David Handelsman titled "Investigating Estrogen Blockade in Healthy Women.” In this project, Dr. Handelsman aims to examine if prohibiting anti-estrogen drugs is appropriate for female athletes. Current policies are backed by physiological reactions in males but lack the same physiological basis for females. This project addresses a gap in existing research and could have implications for prohibited substances in women's sport.

Kisspeptin, a testosterone-stimulating peptide, was added to the WADA Prohibited List in 2024. Anti-doping scientists re...
05/18/2026

Kisspeptin, a testosterone-stimulating peptide, was added to the WADA Prohibited List in 2024. Anti-doping scientists recently assessed the stability of kisspeptins in serum and urine, and they developed and validated new LC-MS methods to reliably detect kisspeptin and its analogues in both matrices.

https://analyticalsciencejournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/dta.70081

The PCC was proud to support Dr. Sophia Krombholz as a PCC Fellow, and Dr. Mario Thevis has also previously received PCC funding for his research.

RNA-based biomarkers may extend the detection window for recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO), but genes that respo...
05/13/2026

RNA-based biomarkers may extend the detection window for recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO), but genes that respond to rHuEPO may also respond to exercise and altitude training. Researchers examined 153 rHuEPO-responsive genes and identified a subset of 50 genes that were not affected by exercise or altitude stimuli. These genes may hold promise as transcriptomic markers of rHuEPO administration.

https://analyticalsciencejournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/dta.70040

Don’t miss our latest podcast episode, where we talked with two-time Olympian Kara Goucher. Kara believed she had found ...
05/12/2026

Don’t miss our latest podcast episode, where we talked with two-time Olympian Kara Goucher. Kara believed she had found the perfect team to help her achieve her full athletic potential, but in 2011 she made the difficult decision to walk away when she believed her coach was encouraging the use of performance-enhancing drugs. She later went on to testify against her coach and share the trials and triumphs of her athletic career in her book, “The Longest Race”.

Listen to the full episode here:
https://cleancompetition.org/anti-doping-podcast/173

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