Comments on: Rugby player nailed with first positive test for HGH

By: mickbd

mickbd — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 22:04:02 +0000

This argument about whether growth hormone use/abuse has the potential to produce adverse effects is crazy. Anyone heard of acromegaly?
Look it up and tell me that growth hormone “is like vitamins in that your body can only use so much and passes the rest”
Growth hormone is not a vitamin or even a steroid. It is a peptide hormone that when injected has a profound biological effect, regardless of age.

By: Vince Drooley

Vince Drooley — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 11:13:14 +0000

@Chapnasty2 – I applaud your use of natural supplements, but don’t waste your hard earned money on HGH Supplements. Their efficacy is ridiculously poor.
I was a long time user of anabolic steroids and still laud them for their ability to hasten the healing of injuries. They are certainly misused but making them a Class I banned substance along the lines of heroin and cocaine was an ignorant mistake. They have so many good uses in realtively low doses and, now, MDs won’t go near them.
HGH has better healing properties than anabolics, is much safer (although with as with any drug – taking more than is necessary can be dangerous), and is relatively benign in terms of performance (unless abused). Simply, the idea, in someone over 40 is to bring one’s HGH levels up to those of a 20 year old. Remember how fast you recovered from injury or illness (or how little you were ill) when you were in yor 20′s. HGH is the major player in that. Just as there is hormone replacement in adults over (approx.) 40 – both men and women – why shouldn’t HGH be in that mix? As far as NFL athletes, HGH will help with injury recovery and, I believe, it should be used in the NFL as a matter of protocol (again, not to abusive levels). It has been used at excessive levels in bodybuilding for years and, except when it was used in it’s naturally occurring form (yes, from cadavers) has caused very few health difficulties. When abused (taking at least three to four times the amount necessary to bring hormone levels up to their naturally occurring maximum in the body) over long periods of time it can cause enlargement of the major organs (including the heart) and acromegaly (thickening of the brow). This can cause early death ( the enlargened heart) – e.g. Andre the Giant (who had an overabundance of HGH, naturally). But those would not be issues if this were regulated in the NFL. The use of HGH prolongs an athlete’s career and helps get him back on the field faster. This means more money, ultimately, for the NFL. They would be fools to pursue this as though it were anabolic steroids, cocaine, etc. In fact, I still think that anabolics in injury recovery are a valid treatment.

By: nasheagles

nasheagles — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 10:13:37 +0000

we want bigger, faster, stronger players… Every Linman is on something… The Human race hasnt evolved… where 350lb men are common…in 1986 William Perry was one of TWO players in the NFL that weighed over 300 lbs… 2 yes 2.. now every team has 8-10…..

By: Jon

Jon — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 09:16:46 +0000

I find it odd that the article Florio linked to didn’t include how the test was conducted. Blood test or urinalysis?

By: realitypolice

realitypolice — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 09:12:43 +0000

Ice says:
February 23, 2010 8:33 AM
“plenty of guys will continue to use it, without consequence.”
I think you mean without being punished by the NFL. There are plenty of very bad medical consequences for using HGH.
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Prove it.

By: po knows football

po knows football — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 09:10:08 +0000

maybe im blind but did it say anywhere in that article whether it was a piss test or a blood test? if its a blood test it’ll never pass in any of the major sports ever.

By: realitypolice

realitypolice — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 08:43:40 +0000

This is boring. Let’s liven it up:
Cowboys! Eagles! Discuss
Vikings! Packers! Discuss

By: realitypolice

realitypolice — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 08:38:57 +0000

Chapnasty2:
It can help repair muscles and injuries that can be torn or exhausted during exercise.
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As I said to another poster that pointed this out- this is generally accepted but not actually proven, but I will grant the point.
Let’s see- helps injury recovery, no known negative side effects, no other known performance enhancing qualities. Umm……why is this illegal again?

By: realitypolice

realitypolice — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 08:36:09 +0000

@Felted:
However, the claim that it’s simply passed like vitamins is not accurate. Supplementing HGH does have physiological effects before and after age 40. It’s most useful role for athletes is likely in preventing injuries and/or speeding injury recovery. These would be very desirable benefits for football players.
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I would grant that point with the stipulation that HGH’s effect on injury recovery is widely accepted but not really proven.
I guess my response would be that if a supplement is proven to aid in injury recovery and has no known negative side effects if administered properly, why is that not a good thing?

By: Ice

Ice — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 08:33:26 +0000

“plenty of guys will continue to use it, without consequence.”
I think you mean without being punished by the NFL. There are plenty of very bad medical consequences for using HGH.

By: realitypolice

realitypolice — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 08:32:42 +0000

philllyphanatic says:
February 23, 2010 6:25 AM
your crazy rugby does have guys that r 250 plus and run 4.4 4.5 and r a hell of alot more nasty than most these american football players. im a fan and player of both but rugby makes football feel like golf my man READINGRUGBY.ORG Reading pa if ur in the philly reading area and wanna learn to play rugby check out site for all the info. i never thought rugby would be so dam fun but man it is the best sport ever invented
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Reading is a great club. I have friends who play there. You’ve definitely hooked with the right group.

By: realitypolice

realitypolice — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 08:30:44 +0000

patpatriotagain says:
reality police:
you are an idiot. it ia an absolute fact that HGH does not “pass through” barry bonds and Roger Clemens were using HGH and it is documented that their hat and shoe sizes increased considerably. anabolic steroids don’t do that. Clemens was washed up in boston and suddenly resurrected his career. That wasn’t wheaties that did that.
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Anabolic steriods don’t do that? Do a little more research and get back to me? Abnormal bone growth is absolutely a known side effect of anabolic steriods, and absolutely not a side effect of HGH. I won’t take offense at your calling me idiot, you’re obviously too stupid to know better.

By: patpatriotagain

patpatriotagain — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 07:17:45 +0000

reality police:
you are an idiot. it ia an absolute fact that HGH does not “pass through” barry bonds and Roger Clemens were using HGH and it is documented that their hat and shoe sizes increased considerably. anabolic steroids don’t do that. Clemens was washed up in boston and suddenly resurrected his career. That wasn’t wheaties that did that.

By: patpatriotagain

patpatriotagain — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 07:11:13 +0000

30% of all football players are using? that estimate is only off by about 70%

By: Chapnasty2

Chapnasty2 — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 06:53:15 +0000

@ reality
I understand your points but I have to call you on a few of them. More HGH becomes needed if you exert more physical activity. For example, a fat pizza/wing eating and beer guzzleing dude doesn’t really need anymore than his body naturally produces. In fact he probably doesn’t even use the amount that is naturally produced. However, when you throw in strenuous activity, such as bodybuilding or extreme physical sports, more HGH is used and therefor there is a benefit to taking in more than your body naturally produces. It can help repair muscles and injuries that can be torn or exhausted during exercise. I research bodybuilding supplements regurlarly and although it doesn’t make me an expert, this is generally what I have read. Again, I’m not an expert but the theory makes sense. That being said, as someone who uses a variety of legal bodybuilding supplements, I have yet to take the plunge on HGH supplements so I do still have my doubt. But look at Favre, without HGH he wouldn’t be alive.
Not trying to debate, more so just throwing it out there. I will save the debates for Eagles/Cowboys posts lol

By: philllyphanatic

philllyphanatic — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 06:25:17 +0000

your crazy rugby does have guys that r 250 plus and run 4.4 4.5 and r a hell of alot more nasty than most these american football players. im a fan and player of both but rugby makes football feel like golf my man READINGRUGBY.ORG Reading pa if ur in the philly reading area and wanna learn to play rugby check out site for all the info. i never thought rugby would be so dam fun but man it is the best sport ever invented

By: Chapnasty2

Chapnasty2 — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 06:06:51 +0000

Why don’t they just make HGH legal? Imagine how healthy the entire population would be if we had the super healing abilities that have kept old man Favre alive all this time. I’d like to get on that.

By: RUGGERLAD

RUGGERLAD — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 05:13:56 +0000

Jonah Lomu – Former New Zealand All Black in his prime stood:
6”5′
273lbs
4.35-4.4 40 (10.8 100 meter)
Samoans, Tongans, Maori’s, Fijians, and other people from South Pacific Islands are monsters and very athletic. That’s not to mention Aussies, South Africans, Europeans etc. Big fast strong people play rugby union and rugby league all over the world, big fast strong people play football mainly in North America. Wukong it is rather silly to think that only America and football produces big fast men who crash into each other at ridiculous speeds. Rugby and football are both amazing sports, but very different and neither athlete could transfer easily from one sport to the other. Could Jonah Lomu have been the best NFL power back ever, well no that’s an exaggeration because you can’ just change sports and be the best without ever having played it. However he was the best combination of size, strength and speed of any sport all time.

By: Dirte

Dirte — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 04:26:09 +0000

Osterhouse: You used to have that in the MLB. Now they won’t even be able to do HGH.
Oh well, can still watch WWE…

By: Felted

Felted — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 01:16:45 +0000

@realitypolice– Your statement about HGH having limited effect on performance enhancement seems to be supported by the data.
However, the claim that it’s simply passed like vitamins is not accurate. Supplementing HGH does have physiological effects before and after age 40. It’s most useful role for athletes is likely in preventing injuries and/or speeding injury recovery. These would be very desirable benefits for football players.

By: Colinito

Colinito — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 23:29:27 +0000

HGH is different than steroids. HGH is a naturally occuring substance in the body that declines with age. The funny thing is, HGH is probably helping a lot of these athletes stay healthy and relatively pain free in the years after football.

By: hizzle1281

hizzle1281 — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 23:18:18 +0000

Wukong-i meant in the sense of contact dumass

By: realitypolice

realitypolice — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 23:11:49 +0000

Anrkist says:
February 22, 2010 10:20 PM
realitypolice – A lot of drugs pass quickly through the system… not all of them are good for you.
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Since I never said HGH was good for you, I don’t really see your point here.

By: MasterShake

MasterShake — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 23:11:41 +0000

Osterhouse says:
February 22, 2010 10:58 PM
“They need a league where they let them Roid up and HGH up and lets just see the biggest most freakish athletic beasts going at it, all for our entertainment pleasure.”
Um, turn on the TV, it’s called the NFL.

By: realitypolice

realitypolice — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 23:11:03 +0000

Wukong says:
February 22, 2010 10:19 PM
the NFL wishes, it were as tough as rugby
——————–
Rugby doesn’t have guys that are 250 lbs of pure muscle slamming into other guys while running a 4.4 40. Also, learn to use punctuation
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Um….yes it does. And due to the amount of running involved in rugby, there are no 300 pound fat asses running 5.5 40′s like play on the lines in the NFL. And they are slamming into each other wearing no pads, and the runners face 15 potential tacklers, with no blocking allowed. Do a little research, dumbass.

By: Osterhouse

Osterhouse — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 22:58:22 +0000

They need a league where they let them Roid up and HGH up and lets just see the biggest most freakish athletic beasts going at it, all for our entertainment pleasure.

By: Anrkist

Anrkist — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 22:20:35 +0000

realitypolice – A lot of drugs pass quickly through the system… not all of them are good for you.

By: Wukong

Wukong — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 22:19:34 +0000

the NFL wishes, it were as tough as rugby
——————–
Rugby doesn’t have guys that are 250 lbs of pure muscle slamming into other guys while running a 4.4 40. Also, learn to use punctuation.

By: MyronB

MyronB — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 22:13:22 +0000

Who cares? I say, let them take all the drugs they want – as fans we deserve to see the best athletes science can produce!

By: hizzle1281

hizzle1281 — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 22:07:04 +0000

the NFL wishes, it were as tough as rugby