Int J Sports Med 2006; 27(9): 745-750
DOI: 10.1055/s-2005-872921
Behavioral Sciences

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Distribution of Caffeine Levels in Urine in Different Sports in Relation to Doping Control Before and After the Removal of Caffeine from the WADA Doping List

W. Van Thuyne1 , F. T. Delbeke1
  • 1Doping Control Laboratory, Department of Clinical Chemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Ghent University - UGent, Zwijnaarde, Belgium
Further Information

Publication History

Accepted after revision: August 30, 2005

Publication Date:
01 February 2006 (online)

Abstract

Caffeine concentrations were measured in the urine of 4633 athletes tested for doping control in the Ghent Doping Control Laboratory in 2004. Determination of these concentrations was done using an alkaline extraction with a mixture of dichloromethane and methanol (9 : 1; v/v) followed by high performance liquid chromatography and ultraviolet detection (HPLC‐UV). The method was validated according to ISO 17 025 standards (International Organisation for Standardisation). Quantification was done by using a linear calibration curve in the range from 0 to 20 µg/ml. The limit of quantification (LOQ) was 0.10 µg/ml. Because the results were not normally distributed, transformation of the data was done to evaluate the difference in detected concentrations in several sports. This resulted in an overall average concentration of 1.12 ± 2.68 µg/ml. Comparison of the most frequently tested sports in 2004 demonstrated that caffeine concentrations in samples originating from power lifters are significantly higher in comparison to urines taken in other sports. Also, a significant difference between caffeine concentrations found in cycling and concentrations found in other sports, including athletics and some ball sports, was observed. A comparison was made between results obtained in 2004 and results obtained before the removal of caffeine from the WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) doping list indicating that average caffeine concentrations decreased after the withdrawal of caffeine from the list of prohibited substances. The overall percentage of positive samples between the two periods remained the same although the percentage of positive samples noticed in cycling increased after the removal of caffeine from the doping list.

References

  • 1 Anselme F, Collomp K, Mercier B, Ahmaidi S, Prefaut C. Caffeine increases maximal anaerobic power and blood lactate concentration.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 1992;  65 188-191
  • 2 Boozer C N, Daly P A, Homel P. et al . Herbal ephedra/caffeine for weight loss: a 6-month randomized safety and efficacy trial.  Int J Obesity. 2002;  26 593-604
  • 3 Canadian Centre for Drug Free Sport .National School Survey on Drugs and Sport. Ottawa; Canadian Centre for Drug Free Sport 1993: 1-77
  • 4 Collomp K, Ahmaidi S, Audran M, Chanal J L, Prefaut C. Effects of caffeine ingestion on performance and anaerobic metabolism during the Wingate Test.  Int J Sports Med. 1991;  12 439-443
  • 5 Collomp K, Ahmaidi S, Chatard J C, Audran M, Prefaut C. Benefits of caffeine ingestion on sprint performance in trained and untrained Swimmers.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 1992;  64 377-380
  • 6 Conway K J, Orr R, Stannard S R. Effect of a divided caffeine dose on endurance cycling performance, postexercise urinary caffeine concentration, and plasma paraxanthine.  J Appl Physiol. 2003;  94 1557-1562
  • 7 Daly P A, Krieger D R, Dulloo A G, Young J B, Landsberg L. Ephedrine, caffeine and aspirin - safety and efficacy for treatment of human obesity.  Int J Obesity. 1993;  17 73-78
  • 8 Davies A M. Survey of caffeine and other methylxanthines in energy drinks and other caffeine-containing products.  Food Surveillance. 1997;  103 1-18
  • 9 Delbeke F T, De Backer P. Threshold level for theophylline in doping analysis.  J Chromatogr B. 1996;  687 247-252
  • 10 Delbeke F T, Debackere M. Caffeine: use and abuse in sports.  Int J Sports Med. 1984;  5 179-182
  • 11 Graham T. Caffeine and coffee: A useful supplement.  News on Sport Nutrition: Insider. 1998;  6 1-7
  • 12 Graham T E, Hibbert E, Sathasivam P. Metabolic and exercise endurance effects of coffee and caffeine ingestion.  J Appl Physiol. 1998;  85 883-889
  • 13 Graham T E, Rush J WE, Vansoeren M H. Caffeine and exercise - metabolism and performance.  Can J Appl Physiol. 1994;  19 111-138
  • 14 Graham T E, Spriet L L. Metabolic, catecholamine, and exercise performance responses to various doses of caffeine.  J Appl Physiol. 1995;  78 867-874
  • 15 Greer F, McLean C, Graham T E. Caffeine, performance, and metabolism during repeated Wingate exercise tests.  J Appl Physiol. 1998;  85 1502-1508
  • 16 Haller C A, Duan M J, Benowitz N L, Jacob P. Concentrations of ephedra alkaloids and caffeine in commercial dietary supplements.  J Anal Toxicol. 2004;  28 145-151
  • 17 Heitzman R J. Veterinary Drug Residues Report EUR 15127-EN. Residues in Food Producing Animals and their Products: Reference Materials and Methods. Luxembourg; Office for Official Publications of the European Communities 1994: 5-7
  • 18 International Olympic Committee .List of Prohibited Classes of Substances and Methods of Doping. Lausanne; International Olympic Committee MC 2001
  • 19 Jacobs I, Pasternak H, Bell D G. Effects of ephedrine, caffeine, and their combination on muscular endurance.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2003;  35 987-994
  • 20 Kovacs E MR, Stegen J HCH, Brouns F. Effect of caffeinated drinks on substrate metabolism, caffeine excretion, and performance.  J Appl Physiol. 1998;  85 709-715
  • 21 Paton C D, Hopkins W G, Vollebregt L. Little effect of caffeine ingestion on repeated sprints in team-sport athletes.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2001;  33 822-825
  • 22 Sinclair C JD, Geiger J D. Caffeine use in sports - A pharmacological review.  J Sport Med Phys Fit. 2000;  40 71-79
  • 23 Tarnopolsky M A. Caffeine and endurance performance.  Sports Med. 1994;  18 109-125
  • 24 Van Thuyne W, Roels K, Delbeke F T. Distribution of caffeine levels in urine in different sports in relation to doping control.  Int J Sports Med. 2005;  26 714-718
  • 25 Verwaal W, van Bavel M, Boot A. et al . Valideren van (fysisch-) chemische en (fysisch-) mechanische methoden op het niveau van de wettelijke eis.  De ware(n) Chemicus. 1996;  26 25

W. Van Thuyne

Doping Control Laboratory, Department of Clinical Chemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Ghent University - UGent

Technologiepark 30

9052 Zwijnaarde

Belgium

Phone: + 32(0)93313295

Fax: + 32 (0) 93 31 32 99

Email: wim.vanthuyne@Ugent.be