Analytical Challenges and Emerging Detection Strategies of Synthetic Cannabinoids in Horse Doping Control

Synthetic cannabinoids (SCs) were originally synthesized to advance the understanding of the endocannabinoid system, facilitate disease research, and support the development of novel therapeutic agents. Compared with tetrahydrocannabinol, these compounds exhibit substantially higher psychoactive potency and enhanced receptor-binding affinity. The rapid and continuous evolution of SC derivatives presents significant challenges for analytical laboratories and increases the risk of misuse. Furthermore, SCs may be exploited to alter performance in both human and animal sports. The scarcity of comprehensive data regarding their toxicity, pharmacokinetics, and potential performance-enhancing mechanisms has made SCs a priority concern in recent years. This concern spans public health, forensic science, animal welfare, and sports integrity. This review examines the historical development, pharmacological properties, chemical characteristics, and physiological effects of SCs. It also presents an overview of sample preparation strategies and analytical methodologies applied to various biological matrices. Furthermore, it highlights the limited number of studies on the administration and detection of SCs in racehorses and offers a comprehensive assessment of future perspectives.