| Abstract ID |
| 20260096 |
| Category |
| Sports Medicine: Miscellaneous |
| Preferable Presentation |
| Poster |
| Title |
| ADVANCING ESPORTS MEDICINE: A NOVEL NON-INVASIVE ANTI-DOPING STRATEGY FOR DETECTING ANTIDEPRESSANTS IN ORAL FLUID AND URINE |
| Author |
|
| Presenter |
| William Chih-Wei Chang |
| Abstract |
| Background The rapid expansion of Esports has introduced unique medical and regulatory challenges, particularly regarding "cognitive doping." Unlike traditional sports focused on anabolic agents , competitive gaming faces the misuse of nootropics and antidepressants to enhance focus and manage performance anxiety. Although the Esports Integrity Commission (ESIC) monitors these substances , validated, non-invasive screening methods remain scarce. This study aims to bridge this gap by establishing a robust detection protocol for Esports anti-doping programs. Methods We developed and validated a sensitive UPLC–MS/MS method for the simultaneous quantification of commonly misused antidepressants in oral fluid and urine, following ICH-M10 guidelines. To ensure method reliability in field settings, we evaluated two sample preparation strategies: solid-phase extraction (SPE) versus a simple dilute-and-shoot approach. Key parameters, including matrix effects, extraction recovery, and sensitivity, were rigorously compared. Clinical samples from patients prescribed with these medications were used to validate the method's applicability for athlete screening. Results Our analysis revealed that SPE significantly outperformed the dilute-and-shoot method, demonstrating superior signal intensity and reduced matrix effects (within ±20%), adhering strictly to analytical acceptance criteria. The dilute-and-shoot method, while faster, failed to meet ICH-M10 standards due to insufficient sample cleanup. The validated SPE-based UPLC–MS/MS method achieved high precision and accuracy, with Limits of Detection (LOD) spanning 0.01–50 ng/mL, making it highly effective for tracing trace levels of banned substances. Conclusions This study presents a validated, non-invasive analytical solution tailored for the specific needs of Esports medicine. By enabling precise detection of antidepressants in oral fluid, this method provides Esports governing bodies and sports physicians with a powerful tool to monitor cognitive-enhancing drug misuse. This contribution supports global efforts to safeguard athlete health and ensure fair play in the evolving landscape of digital sports. |