Background. The substances used in sport could be divided into two major groups: those banned by the World Anti‐Doping Agency and those which are not. The prohibited list is extremely detailed and includes a wide variety of both medicinal and nonmedicinal substances. Professional athletes are exposed to intense physical overload every day. They follow a relevant food regime and take specific dietary supplements, which is essential for the better recovery between trainings and competitions. However, the use of “nonprohibited” dietary supplements (DS) is not always completely safe. One of the risks associated with the use of dietary supplements is the risk of unintended doping—originating from contaminated products. The presence of undeclared compounds in the composition of DS is a serious concern. The aim of this study is to evaluate the risk of unintentional doping. Materials and Methods. Literature search was done through PubMed, Science Direct, Google Scholar, and Web of Science. Studies investigating the presence of undeclared compounds, in dietary supplements, banned by WADA met the inclusion criteria. The last search was conducted in June 2021. The present review is based on a total of 50 studies, which investigated the presence of undeclared compounds in DS. Results. The total number of analyzed DS is 3132, 875 of which were found to contain undeclared substances. Most frequently found undeclared substances are sibutramine and anabolic‐androgenic steroids. Conclusion. More than 28% of the analyzed dietary supplements pose a potential risk of unintentional doping. Athletes and their teams need to be aware of the issues associated with the use of DS. They should take great care before inclusion of DS in the supplementation regime.

Background: Higenamine is a β₂ agonist of plant origin. The compound has been included in WADA’s prohibited list since 2017. Higenamine may be detected in different plants and many food supplements of natural origin. Methods: Our literature search was conducted through PubMed, Science Direct, Google Scholar, and Web of Science studies investigating the presence of higenamine in plants that are used in traditional folk medicine or included in food supplements. Our study aimed to assess the risk of adverse analytical findings caused by higenamine-containing plants. Results: Based on our literature search, Nelumbo nucifera, Tinospora crispa, Nandina domestica, Gnetum parvifolium, Asarum siebodii,Asarum heterotropoides, Aconitum carmichaelii, and Aristolochia brasiliensis are higenamine-containing plants. Based on data from Eastern folk medicine, these plants can provide numerous health benefits. Professional athletes likely ingest these plants without knowing that they contain higenamine; these herbs are used in treatments for different conditions and various foods/food supplements in addition to folk medicine. Conclusion: Athletes and their teams must be aware of the issues associated with the use of plant-based products. They should avoid consuming higenamine-containing plants during and outside of competition periods.

The use of dietary supplements (DSs) has dramatically increased in recent decades. However, around 20% of these products are reported to contain pharmacologically active undeclared compounds, most of which could expose consumers to serious side effects. According to recent data, some of the most commonly detected undeclared compounds are also considered doping and are prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). One of the most frequently detected undeclared substances in DSs used for promoting weight loss is sibutramine. In 2011, all medicines containing sibutramine were urgently withdrawn from Europe and US markets because of serious side effects. In the present study, in order to detect and quantify sibutramine in DSs, a rapid, sensitive, and reliable gas chromatography with mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method was developed. The method was validated according to the ICH guidelines and demonstrated good linearity, accuracy, precision, and robustness. The limits of detection and quantification were 0.181 μg/mL and 0.5488 μg/mL, respectively. The method was applied to analyze 50 DSs promoting weight loss, fat burning, and performance enhancement. Sibutramine was detected in six of them in a range of 16.59–14,854.94 μg/per capsule. The high concentrations of sibutramine detected in some samples raise concerns about the potential health risks associated with the use of adulterated DSs. The proposed GC-MS method could be used successfully in the quality control of DSs or in different research programs, contributing to safety and the prevention of associated side effects.

Diuretics are essential medicines used in the management of hypertension, heart failure, edema, and other medical conditions. Due to their effectiveness in promoting water loss, many cases of undeclared diuretics in dietary supplements (DSs) have been reported. Most of these DSs were marketed for “weight loss promotion” and “detoxification”. Diuretics are regarded as doping compounds as well because of their significant potential to cause weight loss or mask the usage of other doping compounds. The intake of DSs that contain undeclared diuretics can result in serious consequences, including side effects, drug–drug interactions, and the violation of anti-doping rules if such products are taken by professional athletes. The aim of the present study was to develop a rapid, sensitive, and cost-effective high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for monitoring DSs for undeclared diuretics. The validated method allows for simultaneous monitoring for furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide, and torasemide. The LOD and LOQ were 0.78 μg/mL and 2.38 μg/mL for hydrochlorothiazide, 0.99 μg/mL and 3.01 μg/mL for torasemide, and 0.69 μg/mL and 2.08 μg/mL for furosemide. The method was successfully utilized to screen ten DSs for undeclared diuretics. Contamination was detected in only one sample. These results underscore the critical need for regulatory oversight and independent quality control of DSs. Implementing routine screening could significantly reduce the risk of adverse health effects and unintentional doping among athletes. Ultimately, this study contributes to enhancing consumer safety and ensuring fair competition in sports.

Introduction: In the period between 1997 and 2010, sibutramine-containing drugs were widely prescribed for obesity and over-weight management. Due to safety concerns, in 2010 all medicines containing sibutramine were urgently withdrawn from the USA and European pharmaceutical market. Although sibutramine is no longer available in pharmaceutical products, there have been numerous reports of mislabeled weight-loss dietary supplements containing sibutramine. Aim: This work aimed to develop and validate an accurate and sensitive high-performance thin-layer chromatographic method for the detection of sibutramine. Materials and methods: The method was developed using a CAMAG HPTLC system. Silica gel 60 F254 aluminum HPTLC plates were used as stationary phase and toluene:ethyl acetate:methanol (7:2:1 v/v/v) as mobile phase. Results: The calibration curve was built in the range of 0.250–1.250 μg/band. The method provided satisfactory linearity, specificity, precision, and accuracy. The LOD and the LOQ were 0.0765 μg/band and 0.2318 μg/band, respectively. Conclusions: The method allows for the simultaneous analysis of multiple samples as well as the rapid and sensitive monitoring of sibutramine levels in dietary supplements.

Humanity has used and explored various performance-enhancing remedies since ancient times. To protect clean sport, athletes’ health, and to provide fair and transparent competitions, different anti-doping policies were implemented. Nowadays, the anti-doping policies are evolving every year and are governed by the World Anti-Doping Agency. The use of doping in sports is regarded as a persistent problem across various athletic disciplines; at the same time, the topic of whether doping is preventable is highly discussed. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge of medical specialists about doping compounds and to analyze their willingness and preparedness to participate in doping prevention programs. A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted between March 2024 and May 2024. Study participants included medical and pharmacy students, pharmacists, and medical doctors. Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 24.0. Descriptive statistics, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and independent-samples t-test were applied to analyze different variables. The results from the study suggested that healthcare professionals, particularly pharmacists, could be successfully engaged in doping prevention. Additionally, community pharmacies could also be involved in doping-prevention strategies since they are recognized as easily accessible healthcare locations. The relationship between medical specialists and professional athletes is essential for raising awareness, receiving trustworthy information, and developing decision-making capability to prevent not only the intentional but also the unintentional anti-doping rule violations.