Seizures of doping substances at the Swiss Border — a descriptive investigation. (December 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Weber, Christina; Kamber, Matthias; Lentillon-Kaestner, Vanessa; Krug, Oliver; Thevis, Mario
• Is Part Of: Forensic science international. Volume 257(2015)
• Page Start: 359
• Page End: 368
• Publication Date: 2015-12
• Subjects: Doping products -- Seizures -- Anabolic steroids -- Peptide hormones -- Trade -- Switzerland; Medical jurisprudence -- Periodicals; Chemistry, Forensic -- Periodicals; Forensic Medicine -- Periodicals; Médecine légale -- Périodiques; Chimie légale -- Périodiques; Gerechtelijke geneeskunde; Gerechtelijke chemie; Gerechtelijke psychiatrie; Chemistry, Forensic; Medical jurisprudence; Electronic journals; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 614.1
• DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2015.10.001
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0379-0738

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: Collaboration between Swiss customs authorities and national Anti-Doping Agency. Evaluation of postal items seized because of a prohibited doping product content. Testosterone esters were the most frequently imported doping substances. Items were mainly manufactured in Asia and dispatched in south-eastern Europe. Abstract: This retrospective study evaluates the content, the destination and the source of 960 postal items seized by the Swiss customs authorities at the Swiss border between 2013 and 2014. The packages were seized because they contained at least one prohibited doping product as identified by the Swiss law on encouraging sports and physical activity. A total number of 1825 different doping products were confiscated from these parcels, accounting for an average of 1.9 doping products per seized item. In 74% of the cases, where seizures were made, anabolic androgenic steroids, mostly testosterone esters, were discovered. An obvious trading channel for doping products was identified in this study. The seized compounds were predominately manufactured in Asian countries, but sent to Switzerland mostly via South Eastern Europe countries. Due to the unique collaboration between the Swiss customs authorities and the national anti-doping agency, this study uncovered an alarming trend of illegal doping product trafficked to Switzerland.