**Policy Summary:**
The Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, India, has announced the successful development of a rare Reference Material (RM) – Methandienone Long-Term Metabolite (LTM) – to enhance anti-doping testing in sports. This initiative is a collaborative effort between the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) Guwahati, under the Department of Pharmaceuticals, and the National Dope Testing Laboratory (NDTL), New Delhi.
Launched on September 4, 2025, by the Hon'ble Union Minister for Youth Affairs & Sports and Minister of Labour & Employment, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, the Methandienone LTM RM is crucial for detecting the use of Methandienone, an anabolic steroid, even months or years after usage has ceased. This will increase the number of positive doping tests, deterring athletes from using prohibited substances and protecting clean athletes.
Reference Materials are highly purified drug substances or metabolites essential for accurate analytical testing and the detection of over 450 substances prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Currently, only a limited number of manufacturers (approximately 4-5) globally produce these RMs, making them scarce and expensive.
NIPER Guwahati and NDTL are collaborating to produce 22 such Reference Materials, which are not commercially available worldwide for Anti-Doping analysis. Since 2020, NIPER Guwahati has synthesized and delivered 12 RMs to NDTL, with Methandienone LTM being the latest. Methandienone LTM is currently not commercially available worldwide.
The newly developed Methandienone LTM RM may be shared with all 30 WADA-accredited laboratories globally, representing India's contribution to the global anti-doping community.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers India: The Indian government ministry responsible for the development and regulation of the chemical and fertilizer industries.
National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research NIPER Guwahati: An Indian pharmaceutical research institute under the Department of Pharmaceuticals, involved in synthesizing reference materials for anti-doping testing.
National Dope Testing Laboratory NDTL, New Delhi: An Indian laboratory responsible for conducting dope testing on athletes. Located in New Delhi.
Methandienone LongTerm Metabolite LTM: A specific metabolite of Methandienone, used as a reference material for enhanced anti-doping testing in sports.
Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya: Union Minister for Youth Affairs Sports and Minister of Labour Employment, who launched the Reference Material.
World AntiDoping Agency WADA: The international organization responsible for coordinating the fight against doping in sport.
Department of Pharmaceuticals: A department, likely within the Indian government, overseeing pharmaceutical education and research institutes.
New Delhi: The location of the 22nd Governing Body Meeting of NDTL, where the Reference Material was formally launched.
Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers
India Develops Rare Reference Material for
Enhanced Anti-Doping Testing in Sports
NIPER Guwahati and NDTL Collaborate to
Synthesize ‘Methandienone Long-Term Metabolite’
for Global Anti-Doping Efforts
Posted On: 04 SEP 2025 6:43PM by PIB Delhi
In a significant step towards strengthening anti-doping efforts in sports, the National Institute of
Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) Guwahati, under the Department of Pharmaceuticals, in
collaboration with the National Dope Testing Laboratory (NDTL), New Delhi, has successfully developed a
rare and high-purity Reference Material (RM) – Methandienone Long-Term Metabolite (LTM).
The Reference Material was formally launched today by Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Hon’ble Union Minister
for Youth Affairs & Sports and Minister of Labour & Employment, during the 22nd Governing Body Meeting
of NDTL, in New Delhi. The event was graced by senior officials from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and
Sports, Department of Pharmaceuticals, and representatives from NIPER Guwahati and NDTL.
Reference Materials (RMs) are the most highly purified and scientifically characterized forms of drug
substances or their metabolites, essential for accurate analytical testing. In the context of anti-doping, they are
crucial for the detection of over 450 substances that are currently prohibited by the World Anti-Doping
Agency (WADA). Due to their specialized application in dope testing, these RMs are produced by only a few
manufacturers globally (approximately 4–5), making them scarce and often expensive. The National Dope
Testing Laboratory (NDTL) and NIPER-Guwahati are collaborating to produce 22 such Reference Materials,
which are not commercially available worldwide for Anti-Doping analysis. Since 2020, 12 RM out of 22 has
been synthesized by NIPER Guwahati and delivered to NDTL with Methandienone LTM being the latest
one.
As of now, Methandienone LTM is not commercially available globally. At present scenario, the best targets
to track doping misuse in sports are those eliminated in urine over extended times. These are usually referred
to as long-term metabolites (LTMs).
These metabolites help in identifying athletes who have used Methandienone, even if they ceased usage
months or years prior to testing. This leads to an increase in the number of positive tests, reflecting improved
detection capabilities and serving as a deterrent for athletes considering the use of anabolic steroids like
Methandienone.
The use of this new reference material “Methandienone LTM” will help in enforcing transparency and
integrity in sports by protecting clean athletes and acting as deterrents for use of prohibited substances. This
reference material may be shared with all 30 WADA accredited laboratories worldwide as India’s
contribution to the world anti-doping community.
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MV/GS/SG(Release ID: 2163812)