Department of Applied Chemistry of Amity School of Engineering and Technology, Amity University Madhya Pradesh Gwalior organized a National Webinar titled "Chemistry in Sports: Analytical Techniques Behind Anti-Doping Testing" on March 21, 2025, from 15:10 to 16:10 hrs. The talk was delivered by eminent speaker Mr. Awanish Kumar Upadhyay, Scientist-C at the National Dope Testing Laboratory (NDTL), Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Government of India. The webinar was organized on Microsoft Teams platform with an objective to learn about advanced analytical techniques used in anti-doping testing and their crucial role in maintaining integrity in competitive sports.
Title: Chemistry in Sports: Analytical Techniques Behind Anti-Doping Testing
Time: 3:10 PM to 4:10 PM IST
Platform: Microsoft Team
Convener: Prof. Kuldeep Singh, HoD (Applied Chemistry)
Coconvers: Dr. Raman Singh, Dr. Aarti Dwivedi
Faculty Coordinators: Dr. Rachana Kathal, Dr. Rajeev Goyal, Dr. Madhavi Dhingra.
Registrations and Participation.
Registration was free for the event, and Approximately 550 participants from various universities registered for the event. 270 active participants attended the event.
Session:3:10 PM to 4:10 PM
The session was moderated by Dr. Aarti Dwivedi, who initiated the proceedings by welcoming all participants and introducing the speaker to the audience.
Prof. Vikash Thada, Director of Amity School of Engineering and Technology, delivered the opening remarks, highlighting the importance of analytical chemistry in sports and its alignment with multiple UN Sustainable Development Goals, including Good Health and Well-being (SDG 3), Quality Education (SDG 4), and Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions (SDG 16).
In his comprehensive presentation, Mr. Upadhyay explained how advanced analytical techniques such as liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) form the backbone of anti-doping analysis. He discussed the challenges in detecting increasingly sophisticated performance-enhancing substances at extraordinarily low concentrations and how these analytical methods have evolved to meet these challenges.
Key topics covered during the presentation included:
Fundamentals of Anti-Doping Analysis: Overview of the analytical workflow from sample collection to final reporting.
Advanced Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Techniques: Detailed explanation of LC-MS/MS and LC-HRMS applications in detecting prohibited substances.
The Athlete Biological Passport Approach: How longitudinal monitoring of biological variables can detect doping even after substances have cleared the body.
Emerging Challenges in Anti-Doping Testing: Discussion on designer drugs, micro-dosing strategies, and gene doping.
Career Opportunities: Potential career paths in analytical chemistry, forensic science, and sports medicine.
The presentation was followed by an interactive Q&A session where participants engaged with the speaker on various aspects of anti-doping analysis and its applications.
Prof. Kuldeep Singh, Professor and Head of the Department of Applied Chemistry, provided concluding remarks, synthesizing the key takeaways from the session and highlighting their relevance to students' academic and professional development.
Dr. Rachana Kathal delivered the vote of thanks, expressing gratitude to the speaker, university administration, faculty coordinators, technical team, and participants for making the webinar a success.
The event was coordinated by Dr Aarti Dwivedi, Dr. Raman Singh, Dr. Rajeev Goyal & Dr Madhavi Dhingra.
The outcome of the Webinar
The webinar successfully achieved its objective of providing participants with insights into the sophisticated analytical techniques used in anti-doping testing. Students gained a deeper understanding of how principles from analytical chemistry translate into practical applications that maintain integrity in competitive sports.
The session highlighted the interdisciplinary nature of anti-doping analysis, incorporating elements of chemistry, biochemistry, forensic science, and sports medicine. This perspective is particularly valuable for students as they consider potential specializations and career paths.
Feedback from participants indicated high satisfaction with the content and delivery of the webinar, with many expressing interest in further exploring this specialized field.
Acknowledgment
The Department of Applied Chemistry sincerely thanks Mr. Awanish Kumar Upadhyay for sharing his expertise and insights. We thank the university administration for their continuous support and encouragement of such educational initiatives.
Special thanks to Dr. Raman Singh for conceptualizing the event and to all faculty coordinators for their dedication in organizing this webinar. The technical team deserves appreciation for ensuring the smooth operation of the virtual platform.