Metabolic Studies of Clostebol Acetate in Horses

Clostebol acetate (4-chlorotestosterone acetate) is a synthetic anabolic steroid which may be used to enhance performance in racehorses. Studies on the in vitro biotransformation of clostebol acetate with horse liver microsomes were carried out. Six metabolites (C1 – C6) were detected. They were 4-chlorotestosterone (C1), 4-chloroandrost-4-en-3α-ol-17-one (C2), 4-chloroandrost-4-ene-3α,17β-diol (C3), 4-chloroandrost-4-ene-3,17-dione (C4), 4-chloroandrost-4-en-6-ol-3,17-dione (C5) and 6-hydroxy-4-chlorotestosterone (C6). Clostebol acetate (350 mg) was administered orally to 2 thoroughbred geldings. The parent drug was not detected in post-administration urine, and only three metabolites C1, C3, and 4-chloroandrostane-3α,17β-diol (C7) were observed. The metabolic pathway for clostebol acetate is postulated. These studies have shown that metabolites C3 and C7 could be used as potential screening targets for controlling the abuse or misuse of clostebol acetate in racehorses.