India Develops Rare Reference Material for Enhanced Anti-Doping Testing in Sports

India has also contributed hugely to the fight against doping world wide through the successful production of a rare and high-purity Reference Material (RM) Methandienone Long-Term Metabolite (LTM). This resource has been produced, in partnership with National Dope Testing Laboratory (NDTL), by NIPER Guwahati, which is a significant step towards enhancing the integrity of sports.

Key Highlights

Anti-Doping Advancement Cooperation.

• NIPER Guwahati collaborated with NDTL to synthesize Methandienone LTM, which is otherwise not commercially available worldwide.

• When the Union Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya opened the 22 nd Governing Body Meeting of NDTL in New Delhi, he launched the reference material.

Role of Reference Materials

• Proper tests of anti-doping and detection of prohibited substances such as anabolic steroids cannot be performed without RMs.

• These RMs play an important role in identifying any residual substances that may have been left in the system of an athlete even many years after use and hence fair competition.

Bearing on Global Anti-Doping.

• This will be significant in the global fight against doping in sports because the Methandienone LTM will be distributed among 30 WADA-accredited laboratories throughout the world.

• The emerging RM improves detection and deterrence to doping, thus protecting clean athletes.

Conclusion

This development is a sign of the transparency and integrity in sports in India, as the country is determined to make sporting activities transparent. This fundamental reference material is enabling India to lead in strengthening the core values of fair play and anti-doping internationally.