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Int J Sports Med 1998; 19(4): 287-290
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-971920
Training and Testing

© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Detection of Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin Misuse in Sports

F. T. Delbeke, P. Van Eenoo, P. De Backer
  • IOC accredited laboratory, Dept. Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University Cent, Belgium
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Publication Date:
09 March 2007 (online)

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The peptide hormone human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) was measured in the urine of 5663 male athletes collected for doping analysis in Flanders during the period 1993-1996. Using the Abbott IMx hCG procedure, the free and whole molecule associated β-subunit of human chorionic gonadotrophin was determined. Statistical evaluation of the data results in a far outside value of 2.28 mlU/ml. The decision limit, i.e. the concentration at which a sportsman will be considered positive, is set at 5 mlU/ml to ensure with the greatest possible degree of certainty that no false positive results are reported.

Key words

Doping - hCG - peptide hormone