Doping control analysis of antipsychotics and other prohibited substances in equine plasma by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry

Antipsychotics are banned substances and considered by the Federation Equestrian Internationale (FEI) to have no legitimate use in equine medicine and/or have a high potential for abuse. These substances are also prohibited in horseracing according to Article 6 of the International Agreement on Breeding, Racing and Wagering (published by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities). Over the years, antipsychotics have been abused or misused in equestrian sports and horseracing. A recent review of literature shows that there is yet a comprehensive screening method for antipsychotics in equine samples. This paper describes an efficient liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) method for the simultaneous detection of over 80 antipsychotics and other prohibited substances at sub-parts-per-billion (ppb) to low-ppb levels in equine plasma after solid-phase extraction (SPE).