Sport Integrity Australia (SIA) is excited to be a collaborating partner on a new quantum science project to explore new ways to detect synthetic erythropoietin (EPO) in the lead up to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The Queensland Government last week announced $53 million in funding to support the adoption of quantum and advanced technologies, including $8.5 million for the Quantum 2032 Challenge.
As part of this challenge, The University of Queensland (UQ) has been awarded almost $430,000 to pioneer new quantum detection methods to identify synthetic erythropoietin.
EPO is a hormone naturally produced by the human body which stimulates the production of red blood cells. Synthetic EPO is a medication used to treat anaemia in chronic kidney disease and is banned for use by athletes at all times.
Detecting the difference between natural and synthetic EPO can be challenging at times, with only 8 experts in the world able to determine a positive test for the purpose of an anti-doping violation.
The new research will explore whether quantum sensors can be used to detect differences between natural and synthetic EPO, and if successful could lead to new detection mechanisms for a range of prohibited substances.
Sport Integrity Australia's Acting CEO Dr Sarah Benson said the agency is looking forward to collaborating on the project, which may offer improved detection of performance enhancing drugs in the lead up to the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
"Doping, including ' blood doping ', undermines the fundamental values of sport, such as fairness and integrity, and poses a significant health risk to athletes," Dr Benson said.
"One of our roles in protecting the integrity of sport is to collect samples from athletes and have them analysed by anti-doping accredited laboratories to detect the presence of biomarkers that indicate if an athlete has used performance enhancing drugs.
"We know that testing can't detect all doping and that detecting prohibited substances can be challenging. One of the challenges is that synthetic EPOs are very similar to their natural forms and are also low in concentration.
"This new project by UQ will explore whether we can improve the detection of banned substances through quantum technology.
"EPO testing was first used in the Sydney 2000 Games, with a number of evolutions occurring in this time leading to the current global testing procedure , so we have a strong track record of research and development in this space.
"This is an exciting piece of research which we are delighted to be a part of, along with the Australian Sport Drug Testing Laboratory at the National Measurement Institute (NMI)."
UQ's Dr Igor Marinkovic said the breakthrough quantum approach could enhance the detection of individual EPO proteins that would otherwise be buried in background noise.
"The project will be delivered by a multidisciplinary team with expertise in the fields of quantum optics, biotechnology, integrated photonic and nanofabrication," Dr Marinkovic said.
"At UQ, we continuously strive to find practical uses for the quantum biosensors we develop. Partnering with anti-doping experts from SIA and the NMI, we aim to create a new generation of anti-doping technology.
"Quantum sensors are fundamentally better, but making a practical one is challenging. Alongside anti-doping partners, we aim to deliver a practical quantum sensor with unmatched sensitivity to EPO.
"We're looking forward to exploring this further, and even potentially developing a new test that could be used at the upcoming Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games ."
In supporting this project, SIA and the NMI will provide ongoing anti-doping science expertise to the planning and design, along with the analysis and interpretation of results.
"We will also provide important information on the complexity of anti-doping and detection of prohibited substances," Dr Benson said.
"This project could genuinely make a difference to the clean sport movement around the world, and protect athletes, sports and communities from the harm of doping."
The grant has been funded through a Department of Environment, Science and Innovation Quantum 2032 Challenge aimed to support Queensland-based research and development of quantum technologies that can enhance the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
