By Leigh Penman

This is part of a continuing series provided exclusively by MuscleSport Mag giving information on a variety of performance-enhancing drugs for educational purposes. While it is apparent that people are going to use these substances regardless of the health and legal risks involved, quality information is necessary and learning as much about them as possible can only assist an adult making a decision either way.

In recent years, the use of growth hormone has become increasingly popular both inside the athletic community and outside (where it is frequently referred to as a ‘quality of life’ drug). Produced in the human body by the pituitary gland, normal levels are at their highest during adolescence when it promotes tissue growth, protein synthesis and the breakdown of subcutaneous fat stores. Given these physiological functions, its ‘growing’ popularity becomes less of a mystery!

Add to this the fact that it is not liver toxic, does not produce water retention, is ‘skin friendly’ (i.e. does not cause acne), does not aromatize (convert to estrogen) and is highly anabolic with no androgenic side effects, and you have a pretty impressive therapeutic/performance enhancing package. Indeed, it has been hailed as the best drug for muscle gains and probably the only drug that can compensate for bad genetics. Continue Reading »

Drug Screening Could Pose Problems to Users

A Virginia research company may become the thorn in the side of athletes that have been using human growth hormone and getting away with it. Due to the heavy drug testing for performance-enhancing drugs, anabolic steroids have become virtually impossible to use. Many have turned to HGH, which was only detectable through a blood test.

The scientists “developed particles that can trap microscopic elements in fluid,” according to a report in the International Herald Tribune. It may take six months or more for baseline testing to be conducted until the test could be used.

The heads of the NFL, NBA, NHL and MLB all agreed during congressional hearings in February that they preferred urinalysis over the more invasive blood tests for HGH, which can only detect the substance over a 24 to 48-hour period. The urine test in question will be able to detect after a much longer period of time. Continue Reading »

IOC Strips US Men’s 4 X 400 Meter Relay Squad of Gold Following Pettigrew’s EPO & HGH Admission

Less than a week before the Opening Ceremonies of the 2008 Summer Olympics in China, the International Olympic Committee’s war on steroids has gone backwards to go forward. Following an admission of using performance-enhancing drugs by one member of the United States 1,600-meter relay team, the governing body has stripped the gold medals from the entire squad that participated in the finals and preliminaries.

Antonio Pettigrew admitted using PEDs during the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000 during testimony of the May trial of Trevor Graham, a former coach of his. On the stand, Pettigrew acknowledged using erythropoietin, commonly known as EPO, and human growth hormone from 1997 to 2003. This started a whirlwind where some of the sprinters, including Pettigrew, stated that they would give back their gold medals. Now they were told to do so, if they wanted to or not. Continue Reading »

Radomski Pulls out HGH Shipping Receipts; Rocket’s Inadequate Lawyer Denies the Obvious

According to a report in the New York Daily News, Roger Clemens’ worst nightmare may have come true. All through his public denials of what everyone else believes to be true, it has mostly been word against word. Lacking documentation, it came down to whom you believed.

Kirk Radomski, a major steroid supplier who eventually cooperated with investigators, recently discovered shipping receipts from 2002 or 2003 for two kits of human growth hormone that he sent to Clemens at his Houston home. While this is no great revelation to anyone other than Clemens himself, it does put another nail in the former pitcher’s coffin.

The report further stated that the package was addressed to “William Roger Clemens (his actual full name), in care of Brian McNamee,” and that Clemens’ former trainer did not sign for it. The unnamed source added that dates coincide with when Debbie Clemens used HGH to prepare for a Sport Illustrated pictorial with her husband. Continue Reading »

Inconsistency Plagues Pitcher as Yanks Need Ace

At the start of the 2008 baseball season, Andy Pettitte seemed to be pitching with his mind elsewhere. Although his numbers weren’t all bad, the inconsistency that was rarely a part of his game seemed to be the only thing consistent during April and May and the beginning of June. One could hardly blame him, with the volatile offseason filled with the George Mitchell investigation and testimony for the congressional hearings starring Roger Clemens.

That all seemed to be past him as Pettitte won four straight decisions to improve to 9-5. Then word leaked out that he may have to testify in the federal defamation lawsuit that Clemens filed against both hurlers’ former trainer Brian McNamee. The following day, Pettitte got pounded by the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium. Continue Reading »

Steroid Paraphernalia May Be the ‘Smoking Gun’ That the Mitchell Report Wasn’t

If there ever was a perfect topic for the next ridiculous reality television show, it would be the impending defamation and emotional distress lawsuit filed by Roger Clemens against his former personal trainer Brian McNamee. This one has all the characters - the ridiculed ex-jock; his jilted ex; his defiant and defending spouse and his pious best friend who can’t lie for him. Sounds like a winner, or at least one season worth of entertainment

But the only place on TV that you’ll see this soap opera is during the sports report - or maybe of it gets kicked down - in Judge Judy’s chambers. Brian McNamee’s attorney filed a brief in court in an attempt to either get the entire case dismissed or moved from Texas to New York. Even if this case was transferred to Baghdad Supreme Court, a jury full of Al Qaida insurgents would be able to see through Clemens’ lies without a chance of them being “misheard.” Continue Reading »

60-Day Ban for British Grappler

Following the double murder-suicide incident involving Chris Benoit, World Wrestling Entertainment has cracked down on many of their members regarding substance abuse, whether it being recreational drugs such as cocaine, or performance-enhancing drugs. Darren Matthews, aka Lord William Regal, is the latest superstar to garner a suspension from the WWE and the company’s head man, Vince McMahon.

This was the second violation that Regal has had, with the first coming last summer when he purchased anabolic steroids and human growth hormone, along with a PCT drug, over the Internet without a prescription. Although it wasn’t named in the statement released by the WWE, Regal reportedly failed a drug screening after taking steroids. Continue Reading »

Steroids Dealer Meets on the Q-T with Football Security Officials

Football fans may be staring downfield at a ‘Mitchell Report’ of their own after a convicted Texas steroids dealer met with NFL security officials recently.

David Jacobs of Plano reportedly gave the delegation names of individuals that he sold anabolic steroids and human growth hormone to. In separate meetings that took place since May 1, Jacobs provided documentation to substantiate his claims.

One of the players named was New Orleans Saints offensive lineman Matt Lehr, who was playing in Atlanta at the time of the alleged purchases. Lehr’s attorney did not comment, even after Jacobs, 35, publicly accused his client. Continue Reading »