Doping remains a problem throughout sport despite increases in technology to catch the cheats and increased sampling of competitors. At the World Cup, due to start on 11 June, two mass spectrometry companies are providing instrumentation for the anti-doping labs. AB Sciex is providing LC-MS/MS instrumentation and Agilent, GC/MS systems.

Doping remains a problem throughout sport despite increases in technology to catch the cheats and increased sampling of competitors. At the World Cup, due to start on 11 June, two mass spectrometry companies are providing instrumentation for the anti-doping labs. AB Sciex is providing LC-MS/MS instrumentation and Agilent, GC/MS systems.

South Africa’s only World Anti-Doping Agency-accredited laboratory, the Free State University Sports Doping Laboratory, will us AB Sciex QTRAP and triple quadrupole systems. The QTRAP system is a mass spectrometer that provides the unique ability to screen, quantitate and confirm molecules in a single analysis, while the triple quadrupole systems provide additional quantitative analysis.

Dr Piet van der Merwe, Director of the Doping Control Laboratory at the World Cup, says “Our goal for the World Cup is to accurately identify the use of performance-enhancing drugs in support of the FIFA World Cup’s anti-doping policies. We are using state-of-the-art instrumentation to uncover and stay ahead of emerging ways to mask doping, so those who might be tempted to artificially enhance their performance on the field should beware. Along with our highly sophisticated test methods, AB Sciex systems deliver testing capabilities that are among the most advanced ever used for the World Cup.”

The South African Doping Control Laboratory is also equipped with Agilent GC and MS instruments to confirm the chemical identity of suspected banned substances found in testing samples. Agilent is providing five GC/MSD systems and an Agilent 7000 Series Triple Quadrupole GC/MS system. Agilent technicians will provide technical support throughout the event.

“The use of the 7000 Series Triple Quadrupole GC-MS system from Agilent has raised the standard of doping testing to a higher level,” said Dr van der Merwe. “This instrument is significantly increasing the sensitivity and specificity of detection.”

“Agilent is proud of our leadership role in anti-doping testing instruments, which dates back to the 1970s,” said Mike McMullen, president of Agilent’s Chemical Analysis Group. “We are honoured that the South African Doping Control Laboratory selected Agilent to help ensure a level playing field and fair competition at the 2010 World Cup.”

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