Historical development of analytical methods for anti-doping control

Abstract

Although the fight against the use of doping in sport has been going on for almost 90 years, its effects have become tangible in the last 45 years only, thanks to the use of valid and sensitive analytical methods. Historically, extensive international scientific cooperation and technological progress have laid down the basis for the development of high quality doping control laboratories worldwide. New biotechnology products are constantly being discovered and are made available on the doping market, so that anti-doping approaches must be raised to a higher level, and analytical methods must be constantly improved and refined, since it has become obvious that to some extent they lag behind new sophisticated doping agents. However, all the methods must first be scientifically proven and tested in order to be adequately used against doping in sport. If the technology and systematic use of the latest scientific anti-doping knowledge continue to develop and advance, it will greatly contribute to the development of analytical methods.