Held in Seattle, Washington, the 23rd Annual USADA Symposium on Anti-Doping Science recently united more than 85 scientific and medical experts from 28 countries to discuss anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) and other anabolic agents that have taken center stage as the doping agents of choice in many sports globally.

When it comes to the substances of choice for those who decide to cheat, anabolic agents, such as steroids and selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMS), continue to top the list of positive tests every year. Anabolic agents, which come in forms ranging from injectables, to topical creams, to oral preparations, have unfortunately become increasingly common in the anti-aging and wellness industries, as well as illegally marketed in supplements. New designer AAS are also a constant threat, with preclinical and black-market products containing AAS dangerously accessible to consumers.

While detection methods have grown extremely sensitive in recent years, that sensitivity also makes it even more important that anti-doping agencies can accurately identify contamination scenarios from intentional doping.

As such, the Symposium focused on the direct and indirect detection of more sophisticated anabolic agents, along with strategies to combat unintentional exposure to anabolic agents through different routes of administration. International experts also discussed how to evolve testing and strategies to address the shifting threats posed by anabolic agents.