The Partnership for Clean Competition funds more than 70% of the world’s anti-doping research, so when it comes to the field, we’ve seen almost everything. However, outside of anti-doping circles, many researchers don’t realize how broad the space truly is—and how their research may apply. We want to shine a light on the breadth of anti-doping work, so we’ve selected a number of areas with potentially surprising crossover.
If you know someone working in one of these realms, let them know there could be anti-doping research funding available for them.
The Next Wave
Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators (SARMs) are currently in the clinical development pipeline in the United States and abroad. These new drugs were designed to strengthen bones or fight muscle wasting caused by a variety of ailments, similar to anabolic agents but with fewer masculinizing side effects.
The “selective” part of SARMs is intended to provide them with clinical relevance and advantages. By selectively targeting muscle and bone, these molecules have lesser effects on the prostate, hair growth, and other side effects commonly associated with anabolic steroids. These properties open the door for SARMs to be used in both men and women in a wider variety of conditions, ranging from cancer cachexia to breast cancer.
However, SARMs have also become prevalent in the anti-doping space with dozens of reported violations and sanctions over the past several years. Athletes use them in an attempt to gain the same benefits as testosterone without the side effects. SARMs are sold illegally online and also frequently appear in supplements, either intentionally or unintentionally. A variety of highly sensitive and specific methods to detect SARMs have been developed, but there remains much work to be done in this area.
If you’re interested in learning more about the anti-doping research we fund, consider reviewing our Research Priorities here.
If you’d like to apply for PCC funding, you can register for an account in the application center here. If you have any questions, feel free to email Michael Pearlmutter at mpearlmutter@cleancompetition.org.
