Evolving concepts and techniques for anti-doping.

Technical advances are being made in many areas of biotechnology and genetics that are facilitating the detection of doping in sport. These improvements have been catalyzed by the need to counter the ever-increasing sophistication of the community of athletes and their retinues who are intent on the illicit use of physical, pharmacological and genetic tools and methods to enhance athletic performance, in contravention of established international ethical and legal standards and of international treaty. The methods described in this article present a partial and general picture of only some of these advances.