The detection of AICAR administration in racehorses

Summary

5-Amino-4-imidazolecarboxyamide ribonucleoside, known as AICAR, is a naturally occurring substance capable of enhancing physical performance by increasing gene expression in skeletal muscle. Consequently, AICAR has been called “exercise in a pill” by athletes seeking to gain an unfair advantage in sporting competitions.

The challenge for sporting authorities and their doping control laboratories comes from the fact that the mere presence of AICAR detected in blood or urine samples cannot constitute a doping offence. The “normal” level of AICAR needs to be defined in order for authorities to substantiate what is “abnormal”, thereby differentiating what is detected in a sample as being from the body or the bottle. This issue is important for both animal and human sports.

To control the misuse of AICAR in racehorses, this project will develop and validate a multivariate model based on comparing the amount of AICAR and related compounds in a population of more than 1000 samples collected from racehorses with samples collected from horses following ethically-approved and controlled AICAR administration.

Program

Thoroughbred Horses

Research Organisation

Racing Analytical Services Ltd