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WADA to support pharmaceutical research

Anti-doping work led by the University of Helsinki receives project funding totalling 160,000 euro.

The doping researchers in the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, and United Laboratories Ltd have received a significant allocation from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

The project funding totalling 225,000 US dollars (about 160,000 euro) will promote the research on aromatase inhibitors and anti-oestrogenic metabolites that are used as doping agents.

“WADA granted the funding after the normal application procedure. It is simply a result of hard work," says Professor Jari Yli-Kauhaluoma from the Faculty of Pharmacy.

Aromatase inhibitors and anti-oestrogens are used as doping agents to curb the effect of oestrogen, which in turn neutralises the side effects caused by the long-term use of anabolic steroids. Simultaneously, these agents unnaturally increase the content of testosterone in the body.

The WADA funding was granted to a project led by Yli-Kauhaluoma that prepares metabolites of pharmaceutical products used as doping agents. These metabolites can be used as reference substances in international and accredited doping testing laboratories.

“This allocation guarantees our funding for nearly three years," says Yli-Kauhaluoma.

This is not the first time WADA has granted funding for pharmaceutical research at the University of Helsinki, and Yli-Kauhaluoma believes that WADA has been happy with the results.

WADA is the international independent organisation established in 1999 to harmonise international anti-doping work, defend ethics in sports and guarantee the legal protection of athletes.

Text: Simo Salmela
Photo: Veikko Somerpuro
1.11.2007
www.helsinki.fi/digitalcommunications

Translation: Valtasana Oy

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