Testosterone metabolism and doping test results

Łukasz Łaczmański; Marek Mędraś

Vol 60, No 1 (2009)

Review paper

Submitted: 2013-02-15

Published online: 2008-12-19

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Testosterone metabolism and doping test results

Łukasz Łaczmański, Marek Mędraś

Endokrynol Pol 2009;60(1):58-62.

Vol 60, No 1 (2009)

Reviews — Postgraduate Education

Submitted: 2013-02-15

Published online: 2008-12-19

Abstract

Glucuronidation is one of the most important metabolic processes which eliminates androgens from the human organism. Three enzymes (UDP-glucuronosyltransferases) are responsible for transfering the glucuronic group from glucuronic acid to androgens: UGT2B7, UGT2B15 and UGT2B17. Glucuronide products are more polar, water soluble, less toxic and easily extracted form the body.
Testosterone is a common androgen abused in sport. The norm for urinary testosterone/epitestosterone ratio is below 4.0. Large testosterone excretion is associated with a deletion polymorphism of the UGT2B17 gene. This polymorphism decreases T/E ratio level.