Investigation of serum and urine sulfated steroids as biomarkers for detecting testosterone gel administration in healthy women

Code: 242D03OS

Detecting doping with endogenous substances is challenging due to difficulties in distinguishing between natural production and external sources. Testosterone (T), particularly when administered transdermally, exemplifies this challenge. Recent advances in blood steroid profiling, specifically measuring T and its ratio to androstenedione (A4), have improved detection, particularly in females and individuals with UGT2B17 enzyme deletion. However, current methods and interpretation still require complementary biomarkers to enhance sensitivity and selectivity.