Biological Monitoring for Performance Enhancement
Summary
Biological monitoring encompasses the longitudinal and cross‐sectional analysis of physiological and biochemical markers to detect or prevent illicit performance enhancement. By tracking alterations in blood, urine or other biological matrices, it is possible to infer the use of prohibited substances or methods that alter oxygen transport, hormone balance or metabolism. Central to this approach is the concept of individual profiling over time, which distinguishes intrinsic variability from manipulations that confer a competitive advantage. This paradigm has been propelled by improvements in analytical sensitivity, data modelling and minimally invasive sampling techniques. Biological monitoring not only underpins fair competition in elite sport but also informs the management of relative energy deficiency, training load and recovery in athletic populations. Emerging strategies exploit transcriptomic and proteomic signatures, microsampling platforms and high‐resolution mass spectrometry, thereby broadening the scope of detectable anomalies and reducing barriers to sample collection. These advances carry significant global implications for anti‐doping efforts, clinical practice and public health, as they translate into more precise risk assessment, personalised training regimens and safeguarding of athlete welfare.
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Biological Monitoring for Performance Enhancement publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in biological monitoring for performance enhancement across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Athlete Biological Passport (ABP): Longitudinal monitoring framework that tracks individual biomarker variations to detect deviations indicative of doping.
Volumetric absorptive microsampling (VAMS): Technique for capillary blood collection using absorbent devices that yield precise micro‐volume samples suitable for biomarker analysis.
Liquid chromatography–high‐resolution tandem mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS/MS): Analytical method combining chromatographic separation with high‐resolution mass detection for quantifying hormonal and metabolic compounds.
microRNAs (miRNAs): Small non‐coding RNAs that regulate gene expression and serve as stable, cell‐type specific biomarkers in blood plasma.
Dried blood spots (DBS): Sampling method where drops of capillary blood are dried on filter paper, enabling convenient storage, transport and downstream analyses.
References
- Whispers in the Blood: Leveraging MicroRNAs for Unveiling Autologous Blood Doping in Athletes. International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2023).
- Development of an LC-HRMS/MS Method for Quantifying Steroids and Thyroid Hormones in Capillary Blood: A Potential Tool for Assessing Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S). Metabolites (2024).
- A fast screening method for the detection of CERA in dried blood spots. Drug Testing and Analysis (2021).
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