Alternate methods to prevent protease use as a masking agent in sport

Small quantities of proteases can degrade EPO in urine after only a short period of time and protease addition to a sample during the collection process could therefore destroy both eEPO and rHuEPO (recombinant human EPO), giving a negative urine test result.2,3 A number of strategies have been suggested by different authors to avoid using proteases to alter urine samples, such as (1) direct tests for protease activity in urine samples2,4,5; (2) optimisation of the timing of urine collection: preference should be given to early morning samples, which are the most concentrated. [...] out-of-competition tests should be recommended3; (3) in the case of undetectable samples, endogenous urine albumin may be directly used as a protein marker to determine whether a protease has been added to the urine sample3; (4) protease inhibitors, antibiotics, and antimycotic substances should be systematically included in urine anti-doping collection procedures3,6; (5) all parties involved in the urine collection procedure should wash their hands thoroughly before starting and should wear disposable gloves during the sample collection.