Doping Control Research Group

Research group

Group Leader

Rosa Ventura Alemany

The Doping Control Research Group performs scientific research to contribute to the progress of doping control in sports, with the objective of ensuring doping-free sport and protecting the health of athletes. It is formed of personnel belonging to the Catalan Antidoping Laboratory.

The research group was recognized by AGAUR (Agència de Gestió d’Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca, Generalitat de Catalunya) as a consolidated research group (2017 SGR 81).

The research focuses on the development and improvement of analytical methods to detect the misuse of doping agents and on the study of new markers to improve the detection of substances and methods prohibited in sport. In addition, the group works on new mass spectrometry techniques for detecting and quantifying drugs and their metabolites, and endogenous metabolites in biological fluids to study pharmacokinetics, metabolism and pharmacodynamics. The team also collaborates with other research groups in determining environmental pollutants in biological samples.

The group’s main areas of interest in research are the following:

• Metabolism of anabolic androgenic steroids (long-term metabolites).

• Detection of the administration of endogenous steroids.

• Study of the factors influencing the endogenous steroid profile.

• Discrimination of prohibited and permitted uses of glucocorticoids.

• Discrimination of prohibited and permitted used β2-agonists.

• Detection of the use of blood transfusions.

• Detection of growth hormone releasing peptides.

• Use of dried blood spots in doping control.

Moreover, members of the Doping Control Research Group are actively involved in training programs in chemistry and toxicology for graduate and undergraduate students (Pompeu Fabra University, University of Barcelona, Basque Country University).

Members

Rosa Leonor Bergés Casas (Researcher)

Sergi Coll Camenforte (PhD Student)

Argitxu Esquivel López (PhD Student)

Élida Alechaga Silva (Technician)

María del Rosario Álvarez García (Technician)

Laura Benítez Gracia (Technician)

Claudia Bressan (Technician)

Belén Cano Ávalos (Technician)

Ignacio Coll García (Technician)

Susana Cuadras Navarro (Technician)

Immaculada Figuera Figuera (Technician)

Laura Fresnedo Milán (Technician)

Lorena Garrostas Carreño (Technician)

Marta Gómez Gijón (Technician)

Noemí Haro Villaverde (Technician)

María Lázaro Miguélez (Technician)

Sonia Leal Xalma (Technician)

Núria Monfort Mercader (Technician)

Montserrat Núñez Maroto (Technician)

Sílvia Petit Guiral (Technician)

Jordi Puigdemasa Pérez (Technician)

Rosalía Ramírez Llanelis (Technician)

Alicia Redón Peyró (Technician)

Núria Renau Cuxart (Technician)

Lídia Requena Tutusaus (Technician)

María Pilar Sáez Hernández (Technician)

Elia Sanjuán Estaún (Technician)

Alejandro Terrero González (Technician)

Marta Vicén Morales (Technician)

Daria Navarra Alcrudo (Research Assistant)

Main Publications

• Coll S, Matabosch X, Garrostas L, Monfort N, Pérez-Mañá C, Pizarro N, Mateus JA, Ezzel M, de la Torre R, Ventura R. The effect of tea consumption on the steroid profile. Drug Test Anal 2018; 10(9): 1438-1447. IF 2.993. Q1.

• Coll S, Matabosch X, Garrostas L, Pérez-Mañá C, Ventura R. Effect of glucocorticoid administration on the steroid profile. Drug Test Anal 2018; 10(6): 947-955. IF 2.993. Q1.

• Esquivel A, Alechaga E, Monfort N, Ventura R. Direct quantitation of endogenous steroid sulfates in human urine by liquid chromatography-electrospray tandem mass spectrometry. Drug Test Anal 2018; 10(11-12): 1734-1743. IF 2.993. Q1.

• Kotronoulas A, Gómez-Gómez A, Fabregat A, Segura J, Yang S, Xing Y, Moutian W, Marcos J, Joglar J, Ventura R, Pozo O. Evaluation of markers out of the steroid profile for the screening of testosterone misuse. Part I: transdermal administration. Drug Test Anal 2018; 10(5): 821-831. IF 2.993. Q1.

• Kotronoulas A, Gómez-Gómez A, Fabregat A, Segura J, Yang S, Xing Y, Moutian W, Marcos J, Joglar J, Ventura R, Pozo O. Evaluation of markers out of the steroid profile for the screening of testosterone misuse. Part II: intramuscular administration. Drug Test Anal 2018; 10(5): 849-859. IF 2.993. Q1.

• Reverter-Branchat G, Ventura R, Ezzel M, Mateus JA, Pedro C, Segura J. Detection of Erythropoiesis Stimulating Agents in One Single Dried Blood Spot. Drug Test Anal 2018; 10(10): 1496-1507. IF 2.993. Q1.

Ongoing Research Projects

• Studies on intra-articular and peri-articular administrations of glucocorticoids.

- Financing institution: World Anti-Doping Agency (16C11RV)

- Period: from 2017 to 2020