make mine a transfusion, a large one
Having finally gotten into road cycling I am no stranger to the stories around doping. There is no doubt whatsoever in my mind that the Tour de France (not to mention Italy’s and Spain’s equivalent Giro d’Italia and La Vuelta a Espana respectively) are some of the most gruelling sporting escapades taking place in the world today and professional cyclists are undeniably a breed apart. But they’ve always been dopers, and most of them will remain so. Why? Because, as it’s oft been quoted, you can’t expect mere mortals to cycle 300kms a day (at a phenomenal pace) for almost three weeks, over some of the largest mountains Europe can throw at them, on bread and water alone. Once upon a time it was red wine and a raw beef steak for breakfast, then directly injected amphetamine and speed, moving to the hardest of class A drugs mixed in lethal potions before finally alighting on blood transfusions and EPO. If you’re keen to learn more, treat yourself to a copy of Jeremy Whittle’s excellent expose and analysis, Bad Blood, and yes, Lance IS a doper. It took me years to accept the blatantly obvious truth but there it is.
We all appreciate the cat and mouse game that exists between the dopers and the testers, and the symbiotic relationship between the controlling governing bodies and their respective sports’ superstars but there’s a new kid on the block which threatens to undermine all sports. The all-new muscle in a needle is HGH (Human Growth Hormone) and it could well be sport’s biggest secret as it’s almost virtually impossible to detect. It could well be the drug of choice at the London Olympics in 2012 and you’ll never know about it.
HGH is a natural substance secreted by the pituitary gland (predominantly in childhood and adolescence) which stimulates the growth of bones, cartilage and muscles and as such has been used for decades to stimulate growth in small or stunted children. Harvested from young cadavers, supply was obviously limited and consequently it was only a matter of time before it was synthetically reproduced and hey presto, instant muscle mass and performance increase. But with natural levels varying by as much as 100-fold in younger people catching the HGH cheats was never going to be easy.
Despite being banned by virtually all governing bodies worldwide the current test can only detect its illegal use within 48, or even 24, hours of being injected, a tiny window of opportunity and one that can clearly be manipulated by those wanting to take advantage. Several known and exposed drug cheats, such as former US sprinter Marion Jones, are said to have used HGH throughout their careers without ever proving positive for it. Earlier this year, Terry Newton, a 31 year old rugby league player, became the world’s first professional athlete to be found positive for HGH after being tested out of competition. His defence that it was used as injury rehabilitation fell on deaf-ears and he was banned for two years. He hanged himself last month.
Is it worth it? Sure it is, if you can live with the associated severe headaches, muscle & joint pain, high blood pressure, hardened arteries, the onset of early arthritis and increased risk of diabetes. Not to mention massive, spade-like hands, distended features and dangerously enlarged internal organs, of course it is! And let’s not even begin to look at the suspected link to increased risk of prostate and breast cancer. And get this, it’s LEGAL to own and take HGH in the UK. Incredible. Pass the syringe.
