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Sport doping is not a recent phenomenon. Athletes have used many forms of performance enhancements going back to antiquity. Within the sport philosophy literature, sport doping is entangled in a multitude of ethical discourses, some denouncing, and some supporting, doping in sport. Our aim is to use a systematic approach to classify ethical discourses put forward by scholars focused on doping. To take stock of these ethical discourses, and to advance the sport philosophy literature on doping, this paper provides an empirical account of the types of arguments used in the peer-reviewed sport philosophy literature. This empirical account is intended to provide a map of the ethical discourses in circulation, to highlight the most common arguments, and to show where other types of arguments are absent or less well developed. To map the ethical discourses, the authors use an ethical discourse typology from a university-based ethical reasoning program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Athletes, both amateur and professional, often resort to the consumption of nutritional supplements without professional supervision and without being aware of the risks they may entail. We conducted an exhaustive literature search to determine the most common substances found as contaminants in dietary supplements. For each substance, we analyzed its mechanism of action, clinical indication, health risk, and putative use as doping agent. In addition, we evaluated the current regulation of these supplements. Contamination of nutritional supplements (accidental or intentional), especially with steroids and stimulants, is a hazardous situation. The prolonged consumption of these products without being aware of their composition can cause serious health risks and, in the case of professional athletes, a possible sanction for doping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is great concern in equine sport over the potential use of pharmaceutical agents capable of editing the genome or modifying the expression of gene products. Synthetic oligonucleotides are short, single-stranded polynucleotides that represent a class of agents capable of modifying gene expression products with a high potential for abuse in horseracing. As these substances are not covered by most routine anti-doping analytical approaches, they represent an entire class of compounds that are not readily detectable. The nucleotide sequence for each oligonucleotide is highly specific, which makes targeted analysis for these agents problematic. Accordingly, we have developed a non-targeted approach to detect the presence of specific product ions that are not naturally present in ribonucleic acids. Briefly, serum samples were extracted using solid-phase extraction with a mixed-mode cartridge following the disruption of protein interactions to isolate the oligonucleotides. Following the elution and concentration steps, chromatographic separation was achieved utilizing reversed-phase liquid chromatography. Following an introduction to a Thermo Q Exactive HF mass spectrometer using electrospray ionization, analytes were detected utilizing a combination of full-scan, parallel reaction monitoring and all ion fragmentation scan modes. The limits of detection were determined along with the accuracy, precision, stability, recovery, and matrix effects using a representative 13mer oligonucleotide. Following method optimization using the 13mer oligonucleotide, the method was applied to successfully detect the presence of specific product ions in three unique oligonucleotide sequences targeting equine-specific transcripts.

The increased prevalence of social media in organizational communication suggests that it is only a matter of time before it is used in sport doping prevention and control. This commentary intends to highlight not only how antidoping organizations and individual athletes are using social media to promote awareness to clean sport competition but also how the relationship between social media and various sport stakeholders may develop in the future. In particular, it focuses on three main areas in the intersection of social media and doping prevention: agenda-setting by antidoping organizations via formal social media campaigns, social norm control by athletes when they post on social media, and social media use by athletes and fans as a form of framing. Prospective research directions, as well as probable future uses of social media in doping enforcement and control, are also discussed, including using social media to monitor athlete whereabouts and to communicate directly with athletes in doping matters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale: Lomerizine (LMZ) is an antimigraine drug that works as a calcium channel blocker and has selective effects on the central nervous system. It is metabolized into trimetazidine (TMZ), which is a prohibited substance owing to its performance‐enhancing effects in both human and animal sports. Effective doping control measures are imperative to distinguish the source of TMZ in samples to ensure integrity and fairness of the sport, therefore a comprehensive analysis of LMZ metabolites is essential to identify potential biomarkers in camel urine for effective doping control. Methods: Camel urine samples were collected from four healthy animals following a single oral administration of LMZ at a dosage of 1 mg/kg body weight. In vitro studies were conducted using homogenized camel liver samples. Lomerizine and its metabolites were extracted using solid‐phase extraction and analyzed with a Thermo Fisher Orbitrap Exploris liquid chromatography mass spectrometry system. The acquired data was processed with the Compound Discoverer software. Results: The study conducted a comprehensive analysis of LMZ metabolites in camels and identified 10 phase I and one phase II metabolites. The primary pathway for the formation of phase I metabolites was de‐alkylation, while phase II metabolite was formed through alkylation of the parent drug. The study provided valuable insights into the unique metabolic pathways of LMZ in camels under specific experimental conditions. Conclusion: The developed method enables the detection and characterization of LMZ and its metabolites in camels. The identified metabolites has the potential to act as marker metabolites for the distinctive detection of LMZ in camel urine to ensure efficient analytical strategies for routine doping control applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a well‐established asymmetry in our judgments of performance enhancing drugs (PEDs) in sports and in other competitive activities. When an athlete is found using such drugs, it is a scandal that prompts public outrage, fan disappointment, and even loss of title. It seems that we judge enhanced results cannot be genuinely attributed to athletes. There is no similar reaction to use of PEDs in art, science, music, literature, business, and other human endeavors. The question I tackle in this paper is whether this disanalogy is justified: Is there some underlying difference in virtue of which PEDs should be thus stigmatized in sports but not elsewhere? I survey a couple of potential justifications that I find lacking. I then consider the difference in our judgments of the participation of superman‐like characters in sports (which we censure) and in other activities (which we endorse). I argue that the fact that the athlete is human is relevant to the value of sports—and by extension, the status of the effort involved—while this fact plays no significant role with regard to the value of other activities and that this difference in the value of activities ultimately justifies our differing judgments here. I then return to my initial question and examine whether similar appeal to what is human can justify the varying judgments of the use of PEDs. I argue that it can but only under certain assumptions. I conclude by discussing wider implication of my suggestion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article aims to describe how women narrate their IPED use in relation to the gendering of drug cultures and communities, and to conceptually address the gender bias that has dominated the scholarly debate on IPEDs and their use relative to potential risks and harms associated with the practice. The article takes a case study-based and theoretically informed qualitative approach to data. Two online sites where women engage in discussions about IPEDs were selected. Purposive sampling was employed for data collection and reflexive thematic analysis was used to make sense of the data. It is illustrated that women who use IPEDs engage in online discussions through a narrative of the Other. Variations in experiences and spaces for female subjectivity are overshadowed by stereotypes of women who use IPEDs. Stereotypical beliefs and inaccurate or non-adapted information for the female body, as well as men posing as women online in forums, complicate the distinction between genuine information, harm reduction, and misogyny. We argue that gendered expectations and assumptions can obscure the diversity of backgrounds, experiences, motivations, and results among women within these communities. Further and diversified research is needed in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To discuss the use of hormonal contraception (HC) in elite women's competitive sports from an anti-doping perspective because 1) it changes the natural female hormonal milieu; 2) is used to manipulate the menstrual cycle with performance enhancement intent; 3) even though lowering endogenous testosterone levels, some HCs contain testosterone-like androgenic compounds with potential performance-enhancing effects. A complex interaction between rapidly advancing sports-relevant biomedical scientific discoveries, societal changes concerning sex and gender, and a zero-tolerance anti-doping ideology, leads to contentious results, jeopardizing the premises defining and protecting contemporary elite sport in general and that of women in particular. This is in part because of the two out of three criteria for inclusion on the World Anti-Doping Agency's List of forbidden substances and methods: i) actual or potential for performance enhancement, ii) actual or potential for health risk, and iii) counter to the Spirit of Sport concept. These criteria would suffice for the inclusion of HC on the List, especially in their androgenic form. The fact that they are not is good for women's reproductive rights but also illustrates the arbitrariness of the administration of WADA's Prohibited List of substances and methods in elite sports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper establishes the global well‐posedness of strong solutions for the 3D compressible magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) with non‐flat doping profile and Coulomb force, which is of hyperbolic–parabolic–elliptic mixed type. It is essentially shown that for the initial value problem with initial density allowed to contain vacuum states, the strong solution exists globally under small energy but possible large oscillations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plasma proteins have been a valuable source of biomarkers for clinical uses and for monitoring of the illicit use of prohibited substances or practices in equine sports. We have previously reported the first use of label‐free proteomics in profiling equine plasma proteome. This study aimed to refine the method by systematically evaluating various plasma fractionation methods and the use of narrower precursor mass ranges in data‐independent acquisition (DIA) mass spectrometry (MS). Tandem fractionations of equine plasma with octanoic acid precipitation followed by solid‐phase extraction (SPE) with C4 cartridges provided the largest increase in the number of new proteins identified. The use of two narrow precursor mass ranges of m/z 400–600 and 600–800 in DIA not only identified most proteins detectable by using a single mass range of m/z 350–1500 but also identified ~27% more proteins. The improved method was applied to analyse the plasma proteome of 'postrace' samples which, unlike other samples, had been collected from racehorses soon after racing. Multivariate data analysis has identified upregulation of 14 proteins and downregulation of six proteins in postrace plasma compared with the non‐postrace plasma samples. Literature review of these proteins has provided evidence of exercise‐induced haemolysis and changes in antioxidant enzyme activities, kinin system, insulin signalling and energy metabolism after strenuous exercise. The improved method has enabled a deeper profiling of the equine plasma proteome and identified the proteins associated with normal physiological changes after racing which are potential confounding factors in the development of a biomarker approach for doping control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In 2019, the International Olympic Committee published the first Olympic and Paralympic Model Formulary (OPF), which defined the standardised set of medications required at every Olympic and Paralympic Games for the treatment of athletes. This study aimed to test the OPF to determine whether it meets the clinical needs of the athlete population with respect to medications used for pain and/or inflammation (PI), and to present a revised set of essential PI medications for the OPF based on prevalence of athlete use. Medication-use data of athletes at the Tokyo 2020 and Beijing 2022 Olympic Games (n = 6155) from three sources were used to establish prevalence of PI medicine use and to revise the OPF: (i) doping control forms, (ii) pharmacy dispensing reports, and (iii) injection declaration forms. This revised list was further validated through (iv) medication importation declarations by teams (n = 156), and (v) survey of team physicians (n = 382). Results: Overall prevalence of PI medication use was 36.7%, with higher use by female athletes (female: 44.1%; male: 30.0%; p < 0.001), with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs being the most used class (27%). Use of medications with safety risks were identified, including nimesulide, piroxicam and metamizole. A revised list of 48 PI medications was recommended for the OPF. Conclusion: The research led to a revised set of essential medications for the treatment of pain and inflammation to be available for athletes at the Olympic Games, which would lead to a 7% improvement in the numbers of athletes who could have their exact PI medication requirements met by the OPF. Key Points: Medicines are provided at the Olympic Games for prescribing to athletes by international team physicians, with those most commonly prescribed being for treatment of pain and inflammation due to musculoskeletal sports injury. This study presents an optimal list of 48 essential medicines for the treatment of pain and inflammation to be available at every summer and winter Olympic Games, selected based on prevalence of athlete use, avoidance of harms, and reflecting the preferred treatment options of international team physicians. The results of this study will inform the selection of medicines to be available through the medical services within the athlete villages and competition venues at future Olympic Games. The implementation of this formulary is expected to result in 7% more athletes having access to their preferred choice of treatment for pain and inflammation due to sports injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To identify the lifetime prevalence and correlates of appearance- and performance-enhancing drugs and substances (APEDS) use among a national sample of US college and university students. Participants: Student participants from the 2020–2021 Healthy Minds Study (N = 7,401; ages 18–30 years). Methods: Lifetime prevalence of five forms of APEDS was estimated. Modified Poisson regression analyses were conducted to determine the sociodemographic correlates of protein and creatine supplement use. Results: Lifetime protein (23.8%) and creatine (7.7%) supplement use were most common among the sample. Older age within young adulthood, male sex, perceiving oneself to be normal weight or somewhat overweight, any athletics participation, and 2–3 or ≥ 5 h/week of exercise were associated with greater likelihood of lifetime protein and creatine supplement use. Conclusions: Awareness and prevention efforts on the potential harms of APEDS use are needed on campuses, particularly among males and those who participate in athletics and high-frequency exercise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Athlete maltreatment in organized sport has attracted considerable attention from governing bodies, stakeholders and the general public. Despite numerous studies and policy proposals from various countries, the problem remains unresolved due to its inherent complexity. Drawing upon the concept of 'a wicked problem' widely utilized in policy analysis, this study first identifies the wicked features of maltreatment, focusing on: (1) the difficulty of establishing a definition of maltreatment; (2) the challenges of identifying its causes; and (3) the impediments to identifying solutions in a context of embedded stakeholders and unintended consequences. To provide further analysis, we compare athlete maltreatment with other issues in sport such as doping and match-fixing, to suggest that lessons can be drawn from other wicked problems in the same contested terrain. Overall, given the complex interplay between maltreatment and the maintenance/legitimization of sport systems, this paper calls for continuing attention and evaluation of existing research/policies and advocates for a more multidimensional view that acknowledges maltreatment as a wicked problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of nutritional supplements can lead to doping risk and no data exist on high school athletes' use of certified third-party tested supplements. A cross-sectional cohort design was developed using an anonymous survey. Descriptive data for supplement use, use of third-party tested supplements, and knowledge in high school athletes were reported. A total of 225 high school athletes, ranging from 14-19 years of age, from a private high school in the western US, were included in the analysis of the results. A total of 94% (n=211) of athletes reported nutritional supplement use within the past year with an average of six (interquartile range: 3-9) individual supplements, ranging from 0-20 supplements per person. Most frequently reported were sports drinks (72%), vitamins (65%), sports bars (60%), protein powder (58%), caffeine (37%, as part of normal beverages, or 13% as a supplement), followed by creatine (23%). A total of 24% claimed to know for sure that all their supplements were third-party tested. In addition, the recognition of third-party testing organization icons was low (46% in supplement users vs. 14% in nonusers). Athletes also scored low in reporting how to find (22%) and how to order (25%) third-party tested supplements. In conclusion, almost all athletes in this study reported the use of multiple nutritional supplements annually. Only one-fourth of the athletes reported consistently using third-party tested supplements. Knowledge of where and how tested supplements could be purchased was limited in this high school athlete population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Retos: Nuevas Perspectivas de Educación Física, Deporte y Recreación is the property of Federacion Espanola de Asociaciones de Docentes de Educacion Fisica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The 1.7 kV 4H-SiC MOSFET which features optimized retrograded-profile ion implantation in the JFET regions (RG-MOS) is proposed and fabricated on the 4 inch wafers. The measured results quantify the benefits of the RG-MOS structure: simultaneous improvement in high-frequency figures of merit (HF-FOM) (R on× C GD) by 1.5×, HF-FOM (R on × Q GD) by 1.5× and Baliga figure of merit (BFOM = 4BV2/ R on,sp) by 1.6× compared with the conventional MOSFET (CON-MOS). Unlike other reported complicated structures which need high-precise fabricating process, the proposed RG-MOS structure is compatible with the prior planar 4H-SiC MOSFET process, and is favorable for large-scale production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: Stevens–Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) are extremely severe cutaneous adverse drug reactions which are relatively rare in routine clinical practice. An analysis of a national pharmacovigilance database may be the most effective method of obtaining information on SJS and TEN. (2) Methods: Design—a retrospective descriptive pharmacoepidemiologic study of spontaneous reports (SRs) with data on SJS and TEN retrieved from the Russian National Pharmacovigilance database for the period from 1 April 2019 to 31 December 2023. Descriptive statistics was used to assess the demographic data of patients and the structure of suspected drugs. (3) Results: A total of 170 SRs on SJS and TEN were identified, of which 32.9% were SJS and 67.1%—TEN. In total, 30% were pediatric SRs, 21.2%—SRs of the elderly. There were 12 lethal cases, and all cases were TEN. The leading culprit drugs were anti-infectives for systemic use and nervous system agents. The top 10 involved drugs are as follows: lamotrigine (23.5%), ibuprofen (12.9%), ceftriaxone (8.8%), amoxicillin and amoxicillin with beta-lactam inhibitors (8.8%), paracetamol (7.6%), carbamazepine (5.9%), azithromycin (4.1%), valproic acid (4.1%), omeprazole (3.5%), and levetiracetam (3.5%). (4) Conclusions: Our study was the first study in Russia aimed at the assessment of the structure of the drugs involved in SJS and TEN on the national level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Post-doping construction technology overcomes the difficulties of demanding construction requirements of warm-mix epoxy asphalt mixture (EAM) that limit its application, and it provides a new idea for the scaled application of EAM. To provide reliable support for the application of an epoxy asphalt ultrathin overlay (EAUTO), warm-mix EAM was prepared by simulating the post-doping method in the lab, and the Marshall molding method with reduced specimen thickness was considered. EAUTO moisture susceptibility, raveling resistance, and cracking resistance were evaluated to verify the feasibility of EAUTO molding. Furthermore, EAUTO long-term skid resistance and stripping resistance were analyzed in detail. The results showed that thin-layer molding solves the problem of the inappropriateness of conventional Marshall stability equipment for EAM and has cost-saving and efficiency advantages. The recommended molding parameters for the warm-mix EAUTO were 25 blows/face and a thickness of 30.0±0.6 mm. Despite the reduction in specimen thickness, moisture damage resistance and raveling resistance of the thin-layer EAM specimens were slightly attenuated compared with the original specimens but were acceptable, and the mechanical properties were still better than those of SBS-modified asphalt. Regarding cracking resistance, the evaluation results for the thin-layer specimens demonstrate consistency with those of the original specimens. Additionally, the cracking resistance of gap-graded mixes was better than that of dense-graded ones. The EAUTO showed excellent long-term stripping resistance and skid resistance durability compared with asphalt modified with styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS). However, it is worth noting that the traditional texture depth was not suitable as a separate indicator for evaluating long-term skid resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work reports the design and manufacturing of a new electrochemical sensing platform for the monitoring of prednisolone (PE) steroid in physiological fluids. To reach this, palladium (Pd) nanoparticles were successfully deposited on carbon nitride (CN) nanosheets using chemical reduction approach. The prepared CN-Pd hybrid material along with an ionic liquid (IL, 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate) were employed for modification of a low expense carbon paste electrode (CPE). The CN-Pd-IL modified CPE was electrochemically characterized to ensure the electrochemical performance towards PE reduction. The important parameters affecting the performance of the PE sensor including CN-Pd dosage and pH of buffer were studied and optimized. The CN-Pd-IL modified CPE illustrated a wide linear response in a PE concentration range of 0.6 nM to 60 nM using SWV methodology. The limit of detection (based on S/N=3) was 0.1 nM at optimal conditions. The suggested PE sensor illustrated the satisfactory reproducibility and good matrix-effectless character. In addition, the CN-Pd-IL modified CPE was facilely used for the electrochemical measuring of PE in the serum samples of athletes with high recovery values (97.6%-102.4%). The proposed methodology can be employed for the sensitive, selective and fast detection of PE. [Display omitted] • Novel electrochemical sensing platform for voltammetric screening of prednisolone was proposed. • The suggested sensor illustrated the matrix-effectless character with admissible reproducibility. • The modified electrode was successfully utilized for prednisolone analysis in serum samples of athletes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a novel sensor for the electrochemical detection of ephedrine (EPD), a precursor compound used in the illicit production of amphetamines and related drugs. The sensor is based on a modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) modified with nickel oxide/nitrogen-doped graphene oxide nanocomposite (NiO/NGO). The NiO/NGO nanocomposite was created hydrothermally and examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) methods. The successful nitrogen doping of graphene oxide (GO) and the anchoring of NiO nanoparticles on GO nanosheets in the nanocomposite are confirmed by all characterization studies. Measurements using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) were used to assess the electrochemical performance of the NiO/NGO/GCE. The NiO/NGO/GCE showed good sensitivity, stability, and selectivity for EPD detection, with a linear range of 10–2580 µM and a detection limit of 0.09 µM. Moreover, the NiO/NGO/GCE was effectively used to calculate EPD in actual blood serum samples, yielding findings that were both reproducible and adequate (the recovery values varied from 98.80% to 99.40%, and the RSD values from 3.591% to 4.21%). The suggested biosensor provides an easy, quick, and affordable way to detect EPD in sports doping control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study successfully demonstrated a novel approach for the detection of salbutamol (SBM), a common doping drug in sports, using Tb 4 O 7 nanoparticles and a reduced graphene oxide (Tb 4 O 7 /RGO) nanocomposite. The electrode modified with the Tb 4 O 7 /RGO nanocomposite exhibited remarkable selectivity, stability, and reproducibility, indicating its potential as a useful instrument for real-world uses. When used to detect salbutamol in serum samples, the sensor demonstrated a recovery rate of more than 96.50% and a relative standard deviation (RSD) of less than 4.17% (n=5). This work provides new insights into the electrochemical behavior of salbutamol and creates avenues for the development of very effective doping detection techniques. The sensor set a detection limit of 21 nM and functioned within a linear range of 1 µM to 710 µM. These results illustrate the accuracy and precision of the sensor and highlight its strong performance and dependability in a clinical context. As a result, the proposed sensor could be successfully used to determine the clinical levels of salbutamol in serum samples, giving medical personnel an invaluable tool for tracking and controlling patient health. With potential uses beyond sports doping detection, this work constitutes a noteworthy advancement in the field of electrochemical sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Anbar University for Law & Political Sciences is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Factors associated with doping in sports are frequently studied, but sport specific, gender-stratified investigations are rare. This study aimed to evaluate sociodemographic and sport factors associated with doping tendency (DT) in professional handball players. The participants were handball professionals from Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina (n=173; 22.12±3.11 years of age, 64 females and 109 males) who were tested on sociodemographic variables (gender, age, education), sport factors (experience in sport, achievement at the junior and senior level), and doping factors (personal opinion on the problem of doping, doping knowledge, and personal DT). Logistic regressions with sociodemographic- and sport-factors as predictors were calculated for binarized outcome (positive DT vs. negative DT). A greater likelihood of having a positive DT was found for males than for females (OR=1.60, 95% CI: 1.16-2.12) and for those who achieved success at the junior level (OR=1.21, 95% CI: 1.02-1.95). Among females, positive DT increased with experience in handball (OR=1.31, 95% CI: 1.11-1.55). Male players who achieved better competitive/sport results at a younger age were more prone to doping (OR=1.50, 95% CI: 1.21-1.83). While a greater tendency toward doping in males might be expected due to sociocultural factors, the gender-specific associations indicated specific factors that must be noted in the development of anti-doping strategies in this sport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maintaining an effective testing program is critical to the success and credibility of the anti-doping movement. However, a low detection ratio compared to the assumed real prevalence of sport doping has led some to question and criticize the effectiveness of the current testing system. In this perspective article, we review the results of the global testing program, discuss the purpose of testing, and compare benefits and limitations of performance indicators commonly used to evaluate testing efforts. We suggest that an effective testing program should distinguish between preventive testing and testing aimed at detecting the use of prohibited substances and prohibited methods. In case of preventive testing, the volume of the test program in terms of number of samples, tests and analyses is likely to be positively related to the extent of the deterrent effect achieved. However, there is a lack of literature on how the deterrent effect works in the practical context of doping testing. If the primary goal is to detect doping, the testing must be risk- and intelligence-based, and quality in test planning is more important than quantity in sample collection. The detection ratio can be a useful tool for evaluating the effectiveness of doping testing, but for the calculation one should take into account the number of athletes tested and not just the number of collected samples, as the former would provide a more precise measure of the tests' ability to detect doping among athletes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Determining the prevalence of doping within an elite athlete population is challenging due to the extreme sensitivity of the topic; however, understanding true doping prevalence is important when designing anti-doping programs and measuring their effectiveness. The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of doping among Olympic, Paralympic, World, and National-level competitive athletes in the United States subject to the World Anti-Doping Code. All athletes who were subject to the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency's Protocol for Olympic and Paralympic Movement Testing, a World Anti-Doping Code ("Code")-compliant anti-doping program, were invited to complete a web-delivered survey. Using a direct questioning approach, the survey items asked athletes whether they had used each specific category of banned substance / method on the World Anti-Doping Agency's Prohibited List. Multiple strategies to encourage honest reporting (e.g., protecting anonymity by collecting minimal demographic information; using an outside organization to administer the survey) and to detect inconsistent responses were used. Results: Depending on the method of calculation, 6.5–9.2% of the 1,398 respondents reported using one or more prohibited substances or methods in the 12 months prior to survey administration. Specific doping prevalence rates for each individual substance / method categories ranged from 0.1% (for both diuretics / masking agents and stem cell / gene editing) to 4.2% for in-competition use of cannabinoids. Conclusion: Determining the prevalence of doping within different athlete populations is critical so that sport governing bodies can evaluate their anti-doping efforts and better tailor their programming. By measuring doping prevalence of specific categories of substances and methods, rather than just the overall prevalence of doping, this study also highlights where sport governing bodies should focus their future educational and detection efforts. Key Points: Estimated doping prevalence among U.S. elite athletes ranged from 6.5 to 9.2%. The most prevalent category of doping was in-competition use of cannabinoids (at 4.2%), whereas the least prevalent categories of doping were diuretics or masking agents (0.1%), stem cell or gene editing (0.1%), narcotics (0.2%), and hormone and metabolic modulators (0.2%). Of the athletes who reported doping, most reported using only one substance or method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using computer‐aided design (TCAD) simulation, the impact of the Fe doping profile, including concentration, decay rate, and depth of the doping region on current‐collapse magnitude (▵CC) in 0.5‐μm gated GaN‐based high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) is systematically investigated. Accurate simulation models are established and developed to facilitate the fabrication of electronics. It is elucidated that the intricate interplay between trapping and de‐trapping of Fe‐related traps at the gate‐drain edge is responsible for current collapse. The concentration and decay rate of the doping region have a more significant impact on current collapse than the depth. Increased trap state density near two‐dimensional electron gas (2DEG) channel caused by deep‐level acceptors would boost ▵CC. However, a minor dynamic reduction in 2DEG density (nT) induces a relatively small ▵CC. By adjusting the concentration, decay rate, and depth of the doping region, ▵CC of GaN‐based Radio Frequency (RF) HEMTs can be reduced by approximately 50.3 %. The optimized distribution of Fe doping discussed in this work helps to prepare GaN‐based RF HEMTs with a limited current collapse effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: In competitive sport, classic methods of measuring drug prevalence, such as doping controls or questionnaires, are challenging. Here we describe a novel urine sampling method to measure drug use in athletes. We hypothesize that the prevalence of drug use in ultramarathon runners is measured more accurately with our sampling method than randomized-response questionnaires. Methods: Urine samples and associated demographic data were collected from male participants using blind, automated urinals at the start ot ultramarathon races. Various nonprohibited and prohibited substances were subsequently screened. Concomitantly, 2931 male and female runners participating in the same ultramarathons completed an anonymized, randomized-response questionnaire regarding drug use. Results: Among 412 individual urine samples, 205 (49.8%) contained at least one substance, and 16.3% of the samples contained one or more prohibited substances. Substances detected in urine included nonsteroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) (22.1%), acetaminophen (15.5%), opioids (6.6%), diuretics (4.9%), hypnotics (4.4%), glucocorticoids (2.7%), beta-2 agonists (2.2%), cannabinoids (1.9%), and stimulants (1.2%). None of the samples contained erythropoietin-receptor agonists or suspicious testosterone. Drug use was not associated with the participants' characteristics or ranking. Respondents to the questionnaire reported using acetaminophen (13.6%) and NSAID (12.9%); however, no prohibited substances were declared. Conclusions: There was a high prevalence of drug use among male ultramarathon runners, in particular, NSAID and painkillers; however, performance-enhancing drugs were marginally used. Blind urine sampling highlighted prohibited drug use not declared in questionnaires, and it is useful to assess the prevalence of drug use and/or doping in competitive athletes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prompted by the need for related analytical reference material in the frame of the fight against doping in sports, synthetic efforts towards the main long‐term bishydroxylated metabolite (LGD‐LTM1) of the nonsteroidal selective androgen receptor modulator (SARM) ligandrol have produced related derivatives that were exploited for a targeted metabolite analysis of urine samples obtained in the course of previous excretion studies of this SARM. Further clarifying ligandrol's metabolic profile, the availability of synthetic reference material permitted the structural elucidation of a previously reported pyrrolidinone‐type metabolite and revealed its potential analytical utility as an additional long‐term marker. Moreover, synthetic reference material enabled the comparison and validation of liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (LC‐MS)‐based and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC‐MS)‐based detection and identification methods focusing on the LGD‐LTM1 marker. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Chloroquine drug as the SARS-CoV-2's primary protease which can prevent in vitro viral duplication of all diverse experiments to now. Chloroquine drug is an anti-viral drug enlarged by Pfizer which can operate as an orally effective 3C-like protease inhibitor. Materials and Methods: In this work, chloroquine drug has been evaluated in forbiddance of coronavirus across trapping on the boron nitride nanocage (B4N10_NC) functionalized with some atoms as the drug delivery procedure owing to the direct electron transfer principle which can be illustrated by quantum mechanics method of density functional theory (DFT). Results and Discussion: As a matter of fact, it was performed the theoretical method of the B3LYP/6-311+G (d,p) to account the aptitude of B4N10_NC for grabbing Chloroquine drug via density of electronic states, nuclear quadrupole resonance, nuclear magnetic resonance, and thermodynamic specifications. Finally, the resulted amounts illustrated that using B4N10_NC functionalized with aluminum (Al), carbon (C), silicon (Si) for adsorbing Chloroquine drug towards formation of Chloroquine @Al-B4N10_NC, Chloroquine @C-B4N10_NC, Chloroquine @Si-B4N10_NC might provide the reasonable formula in drug delivery technique which is able to be fulfilled by quantum mechanics computations due to physicochemical properties of PDOS, NMR, NQR, and IR spectrum. Conclusions: Here, we used network pharmacology, metabolite analysis, and molecular simulation to figure out the biochemical basis of the health-raising influence of Chloroquine drug through drug delivery with B4N10_NC. This research article peruses the drug ability, metabolites, and potential interaction of Chloroquine drug with Coronavirus-induced pathogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aims to determine the liability for violations of customs control in the area of doping substance smuggling. In most countries, smuggling is defined by criminal, administrative, and customs legislation. This type of illegal activity causes significant damage to the state's economy, disrupts public order in international trade, and undermines state sovereignty. Despite the international legal nature of smuggling, there is still no multilateral agreement to combat this type of crime. Modern smuggling is characterized by a high level of organization, technical equipment, and international connections. Therefore, effective combating of this violation of public order becomes possible only with close cooperation between countries. Due to the increasing instances of doping use in sports and its cross-border spread, customs control becomes a key element in ensuring public safety. Given the above, examining the legal aspects related to the smuggling of doping substances across customs borders, considering international experience, is relevant and necessary. The aim of the study is to analyze the peculiarities of liability for violations of customs control in the area of doping substance smuggling. The research methodology includes methods such as document and information analysis, logical method, modeling method, comparison method, and systemic method. As a result of the study, the liability of individuals and legal entities involved in doping substance smuggling under national and international law is analyzed. In particular, the interaction between customs control bodies, law enforcement agencies, and sports organizations in detecting and combating doping smuggling is examined. The study highlights the possibility of improving legislation and increasing the effectiveness of customs control to prevent the spread of doping in sports. The importance of international cooperation and information exchange between countries to effectively counter this negative phenomenon is noted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An instant p-doping strategy employing 4-tert-butyl-2-chloropyridine and tert-butyl peroxybenzoate for the spiro-OMeTAD hole-transport layer (HTL) in perovskite solar cells (PSCs) is proposed to replace the conventional 4-tert-butylpyridine-doped HTL. The novel doping process eliminates the formation of pores in the HTL. Meanwhile, a 21.4% efficiency is achieved on the corresponding absolute methylammonium-free PSCs with significantly improved thermal and moisture stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the present research was to examine doping-related decisional trade-offs, and their relationship with health risk perceptions towards doping and moral attitudes in sport. A mixed methods sequential-explanatory design was used. In Study 1,249, Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) athletes from 16 countries completed anonymous online questionnaires on decisional trade-offs related to doping, health risk beliefs towards doping, moral attitudes in sport, and socio-demographic variables. The results showed that almost 1 in 10 athletes would trade their life for sporting success, independently of the moral implications of their choice. When mortal threat was absent, 31.5% of the athletes would trade morality for sporting success. Decisional trade-off choices differentiated scores in moral attitudes, such as acceptance of cheating and keeping winning in proportion. In Study 2, 11 British competitive MMA athletes were interviewed about decisional trade-offs involving moral violations or mortal threats. Thematic analysis corroborated the Study 1 findings, with most athletes dismissing the doping choice involving a mortal threat but endorsing the one where the mortal threat was absent. Anti-doping education in MMA athletes should target the decision-making process underlying doping, with an emphasis on moral values and the adverse health risk effects of doping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A carbon dot (CD) was prepared by o-phenylenediamine and water, which showed bright yellow fluorescence under ultraviolet light irradiation (λ = 580 nm), and verified good fluorescence quenching effect on penicillin G sodium (Png-Na). Using methacrylic acid as a functional monomer, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as a crosslinker, and Png-Na as a template, a kind of composite microsphere combining CD and molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) was synthesized by surface-initiated atomic transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP). For reasons of comparison, we also prepared MIP without CD and non-imprinted polymers (NIPs). Through static and dynamic adsorption experiments, the maximum adsorption capacity was 47.05 mg g−1 and the equilibrium time was 30 min. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was utilized to determine the content of Png-Na in the spiked milk samples. A sensitive, rapid, and simple method for determination of Png-Na in food samples was developed. The utilized approach enabled the quantification of Png-Na within the concentration range 20–1000 μg L−1 (with a limit of detection of 5 μg L−1). The recoveries achieved were in the range 93.3–98.2%, with a relative standard deviation of 1.2–4.2%. The results demonstrated that CD@MIP possessed the capability of specific adsorption and fluorescence detection of Png-Na, enabling simultaneous detection and enrichment of Png-Na in real samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lead-free piezoelectric ceramics 0.7BiFe 1- x (Zn 0.5 Sn 0.5) x O 3 -0.3BaTiO 3 [BF(ZS) x -BT] were successfully prepared using the solid-state reaction method. The dual effects of B-site Zn/Sn co-doping and quenching on the structure and piezoelectricity of BF(ZS) x -BT were investigated. All samples showed a distinct perovskite structure, characterized by the simultaneous presence of rhombohedral (R) and pseudo-cubic (pC) phases. The insulation and electrical properties were significantly increased by appropriate Zn/Sn co-doping and quenching treatment. The long parallel strip domains and enhanced lattice distortion synergistically contribute to the outstanding piezoelectricity (d 33 = 203 pC/N) and a high Curie temperature (T c = 493 °C) in quenched BF(ZS) 0.003 -BT. Furthermore, the quenching treatment was found to further improve the piezoelectric property and enhance its high-temperature stability, as demonstrated by the in-situ electromechanical coupling coefficient (k p) and thermal depolarization test. The d 33 of the quenched BF(ZS) 0.003 -BT was maintained at 186 pC/N around 400 °C, highlighting its promising applications in medium-high temperature conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between perceived coach-created empowering and disempowering motivational climate and doping likelihood among athletes and whether the attitudes towards doping and doping self-regulatory efficacy mediates these relationships. Methods: Athletes (N = 948; 50% male; mean age, 20.32, SD = 2.45) recruited from a variety of sports completed questionnaires assessing their perceptions of coach-created motivational climate, attitudes towards doping, doping self-regulatory efficacy, and doping likelihood. Results: The study's results showed significant negative direct effects of a perceived empowering climate on doping likelihood (β = −0.50) and attitudes towards doping (β = −0.48), and a positive effect on self-regulatory efficacy (β = 0.48). On the contrary, a disempowering climate had positive direct effects on doping likelihood (β = 0.53) and attitudes towards doping (β = 0.45), and a negative effect on self-regulatory efficacy (β = −0.49). Significant indirect effects on doping likelihood via attitudes and self-regulatory efficacy were found. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that athletes who perceive a more empowering climate created by the coach are less likely to use banned substances due to their more negative attitudes towards doping and stronger belief in their ability to resist the temptation to use doping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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'Excellence' underpins debates within sports ethics from the nature of sport to the permissibility of doping. Despite the central role that excellence occupies in ethical reasoning about sport, it has garnered more support than scrutiny in the literature. Little has been said about how this value can be advanced or undermined. This paper addresses that lacuna by demonstrating that excellence has a complexity that has previously gone unnoticed. Specifically, excellence has four distinct elements: the 'cluster of excellence', the 'quantum of excellence', the 'clarity of excellence', and the 'balance of excellence'. Correspondingly, excellence can be advanced or undermined in any of four ways. This analysis yields the 'Excellence Principle' – a principle that provides a desideratum for any broad internalist (i.e. interpretivist) theory of sport and a normative framework with which to undertake excellence-based reasoning in sports ethics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An exploration into the electronic characteristics of graphene nanosheets (GDY) and its silicon-doped counterpart, SiGDY, was undertaken through the application of first-principle calculations. Analysis was conducted concerning the interaction between the ibuprofen (IBP) pharmaceutical and the surfaces of GDY and SiGDY sheet materials. This research undertook an evaluation of various factors like the energy of adsorption, transfer of charge, and alterations in electrical conductivity. The findings of this analysis revealed that the original GDY displayed minimal affinity towards IBP. Upon the attachment of IBP, there was a mere 8.92 percent marginal change observed in the energy range of the GDY surface. The interaction between SiGDY and IBP showcased an aqueous energy measurement of −49.11 kcal/mol, accompanied by a gaseous energy measurement of −20.09 kcal/mol. Utilising the pharmaceutical's solvation energy value, its solubility in the aqueous phase was determined. The profoundly positively charged SiGDY sheet and IBP underwent substantial charge transfer, engendering the essential binding energy for IBP adherence. The electrical conductivity of SiGDY underwent a noteworthy increase of roughly 26.41 percent upon the attachment of IBP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The density functional tight binding (DFTB) method and DFTB-based molecular dynamics (DFTB-MD) simulations were used to study the structure, intermolecular interactions, and dynamic properties of 2,4-dinitroimidazole (2,4-DNI) crystals doped with different amounts of 1,4-dinitroimidazole (1,4-DNI) at different temperatures. As the doping concentration increases, the stability of the system decreases. It is thermodynamically most favorable to arrange the doped defects in molecular layers. The doping of impurities changes the extreme point of the surface electrostatic potential (ESP) of the 2,4-DNI molecules, but would not change the position of the extreme point, which reduces the stability and safety of the 2,4-DNI molecules. The dynamic simulation showed that the doping of the impurities does not change the decomposition mechanism of the 2,4-DNI molecules, but effectively promotes their decomposition and the formation of intermediate products. At the initial decomposition stage, the 2,4-DNI molecules located around the impurity molecules become more easy to decompose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This work compares the marketing authorization, labels and dosage forms of medicines in the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines for Children (EMLc) in China, the Russian Federation and Brazil to urge policymakers to pay more attention to paediatric medication. Methods: Medicines were selected from the 8th EMLc. By searching relevant databases, which include different types of medical information in China, the Russian Federation and Brazil, the marketing authorization, labels and dosage forms of paediatric medicines in the three countries were evaluated. Results: A total of 485 drug products containing 312 active pharmaceutical ingredients listed in the WHO EMLc were evaluated. Among them, 344 products were approved for use in China, 286 in the Russian Federation and 264 in Brazil. Out of the 344 approved medicines, 317 (92.15%) were authorized for paediatric use in China, 224 (78.32%) in the Russian Federation and 218 (82.58%) in Brazil. In terms of guidance information labelling on drug labels, 75.08%, 83.04% and 88.07% of paediatric drugs approved in China, the Russian Federation and Brazil, respectively, clearly indicated the usage and dosage for paediatric use. Additionally, injections and tablets were the most prevalent dosage forms in these three countries. Conclusion: There is still scope for enhancing the marketing authorization and development of dosage forms for paediatric medicines in the three countries. Furthermore, additional measures are being implemented to enhance the information provided on drug labels for children, particularly in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hair analysis is a crucial method in forensic toxicology with potential applications in revealing doping histories in sports. Despite its widespread use, knowledge about detectable substances in hair is limited. This study systematically assessed the detectability of prohibited substances in sports using a multifaceted approach. Initially, an animal model received a subset of 17 model drugs to compare dose dependencies and detection windows across different matrices. Subsequently, hair incorporation data from the animal experiment were extrapolated to all substances on the World Anti-Doping Agency's List through in-silico prediction. The detectability of substances in hair was further validated in a proof-of-concept human study involving the consumption of diuretics and masking agents. Semi-quantitative analysis of substances in specimens was performed using ultra-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. Results showed plasma had optimal dose dependencies with limited detection windows, while urine, faeces, and hair exhibited a reasonable relationship with the administered dose. Notably, hair displayed the highest detection probability (14 out of 17) for compounds, including anabolic agents, hormones, and diuretics, with beta-2 agonists undetected. Diuretics such as furosemide, canrenone, and hydrochlorothiazide showed the highest hair incorporation. Authentic human hair confirmed diuretic detectability, and their use duration was determined via segmental analysis. Noteworthy is the first-time reporting of canrenone in human hair. Anabolic agents were expected in hair, whereas undetectable compounds, such as peptide hormones and beta-2 agonists, were likely due to large molecular mass or high polarity. This study enhances understanding of hair analysis in doping investigations, providing insights into substance detectability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evaluating anti-doping measures is essential to optimise their effectiveness. Comparing sporting results that have a higher doping prevalence, such as weightlifting, before and after the implementation of anti-doping measures may serve as an effectiveness indicator. The results of the most successful weightlifters of both sexes in two time periods, 2009–2015 and 2016–2022 were analysed. The Sinclair Total (ST) to compare the relative strength of weightlifters from different weight categories was calculated. A significant decrease in the ST during 2016–2022 (p < 0.001) in athletes of all ages and both sexes overall was reported. When analysed by age, there was a decrease in ST in juniors and seniors of both sexes (p = 0.010 and p < 0.001, respectively), but not in youth. There was a decrease in the ST in senior men (p < 0.001), junior women (p < 0.001) and senior women (p < 0.001). In elite weightlifting, adult athletic results declined during 2016–2022, which may partly be explained by the implementation of new methods to detect long-term anabolic androgenic steroid metabolites as well as other policies. This may highlight the effectiveness of these methods both in the prevention and detection of anti-doping rule violations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]