The determination of oral turinabol (4-chloro-17 alpha-methyl-17 beta-hydroxy-1,4-androstadien-3-one) [1] in the 'free' fraction of human urine samples by gas chromatography and capillary column gas chromatography/mass spectrometry was studied. After administration to man, three major metabolites are formed whose structures were identified as 6 beta-hydroxy-turinabol [2], 6 beta, 12-dihydroxy-turinabol [4], and 6 beta, 16-dihydroxy-turinabol [5], respectively. In much smaller quantities at least another three metabolites are excreted, one of which could be identified as 17 epi-turinabol [6]. No measurable amounts of 1 itself were detected in any of the urine samples investigated. The rate of metabolism and urinary excretion is reasonably fast. The total amount of recovered material, in the form of the three main metabolites, is on the order of 15%. Clean-up procedures and chromatographic conditions are presented in detail.

The determination of methandienone (I) (17 alpha-methyl-17 beta-hydroxyandrosta-1,4-dien-3-one) in human urine by gas chromatography and capillary column gas chromatography--mass spectrometry has been studied. After oral administration to man two major metabolites were detected, the structures of which have been identified as 17-epi-methandienone (II) and 6 beta-hydroxy-17-epi-methandienone (III). These metabolites are exclusively excreted in the unconjugated form. At least two more metabolites are extractable from the free fraction of the urine but no measurable amounts of I itself were found. The rate of metabolism and urinary excretion seems to be reasonably fast. The total amount of recovered I in the form of the metabolites II and III is about 5%. Extraction and clean-up procedures and chromatographic details are presented.