Testing for anabolic steroids in hair from two bodybuilders

Two male bodybuilders were recently arrested by the French customs in Stras bourg (France) in possession of 2050 tablets and 251 ampoules of various an abolic steroids. It was claimed that the steroids were for personal use and not for trafficing as suggested by the police. Urine and hair specimens we re collected from both suspects to clarify the claims. Nandrolone, stanozol ol, testosterone and their corresponding metabolites were identified in the urine of both subjects. After decontamination, the hair was hydrolyzed by sodium hydroxide in presence of deuterated internal standards. After extrac tion with ethyl acetate and silylation, the drugs were identified by CC-MS in the electron impact mode. Hair from both males were positive for nandrol one (196 and 260 pg/mg), testosterone (46 and 71 pg/mg) and stanozolol (135 and 156 pg/mg), clearly indicating steroids abuse. Although not yet recogn ized by the International Olympic Committee, hair analysis may be a useful adjunct to conventional drug testing in urine from athletes. (C) 1999 Elsev ier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.