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Evaluation of cobalt as a performance enhancing drug (PED) in racehorses

In: Comparative Exercise Physiology
Authors:
K.H. McKeever Equine Science Center, Department of Animal Science, Rutgers – The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA.

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K. Malinowski Equine Science Center, Department of Animal Science, Rutgers – The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA.

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C.K. Fenger Equine Integrated Medicine, PLC, 4904 Ironworks Rd., Georgetown, KY 40324, USA.

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W.C. Duer Duer Forensic Toxicology, Inc., Isle Of Sand Key, 1621 Gulf Boulevard, Suite 102, Clearwater, FL 33767, USA.

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G.A. Maylin New York Drug Testing and Research Program, Morrisville State College, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.

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Online Publication Date:
01 Jul 2020
Open Access

Cobalt is a required trace element in animals, but administration in excess is considered dangerous and potentially performance enhancing in equine athletes. This study seeks to determine if cobalt may actually act as a performance enhancing drug (PED) by altering biochemical parameters related to red blood cell production as well as markers of aerobic and anaerobic exercise performance. In addition, for adequate regulation of naturally occurring substances, such as cobalt, its distribution among the population must be defined. In order to identify this distribution, plasma Cobalt was determined from 245 Standardbred horses with no cobalt supplementation from farms in New York and New Jersey, including horses at the Rutgers University Equine Science Center. Samples were analysed by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry. Seven healthy, race fit Standardbreds (4 geldings, 3 mares, age: 5±3 years, ~500 kg) were used for the PED experiment. An incremental graded exercise test (GXT) to measure maximal aerobic capacity (V̇O2max) and markers of performance, measurement of plasma volume and blood volume as well as the measurement of lactate, erythropoietin (EPO), and various blood haematological factors were determined 7 days prior to cobalt administration. Each horse was administered a sterile solution of cobalt salts (50 mg of elemental Co as CoCl2 in 10 ml of saline, IV) at 9 AM on three consecutive days via the jugular vein. Blood samples were obtained from the contralateral jugular vein before and at 1, 2, 4 and 24 h after administration. Plasma and blood volume were measured one day after the last dose of cobalt, and a post administration GXT was performed the next day. Horses were observed for signs of adverse effects of the cobalt administration (agitation, sweating, increased respiration, etc.). Plasma cobalt concentration increased from a pre-administration mean of 1.6±0.6 to 369±28 μg/l following 3 doses of the cobalt solution (P<0.05). This Co concentration was unaccompanied by changes in aerobic or anaerobic performance, plasma EPO concentration, plasma volume, resting blood volume, total blood volume, or estimated red blood cell volume (P>0.05). There were no observed adverse effects.

Title:
Evaluation of cobalt as a performance enhancing drug (PED) in racehorses
Article Type:
Research Article
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.3920/CEP200001
Language:
English
Pages:
243–252
Keywords:
equine; cobalt; performance enhancing drugs
In:
Comparative Exercise Physiology
In:
Volume 16: Issue 4
Received:
31 Dec 2019
Accepted:
04 Feb 2020
Publisher:
Wageningen Academic
E-ISSN:
1755-2559
Print ISSN:
1755-2540
Subjects:
General, Life Sciences, Food & Health, Animal & Veterinary

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