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February 09, 2006
Athletes risk health to use growth hormone
The BBC seems surprised in today's story that athletes will take health risks to enhance athletic performance. I have blogged on this subject many times on my medical blog - db's Medrants. I blogged on this story today - and will repeat that entry here. Athletes 'risking health to win' Athletes are taking ever more health risks as they seek performance enhancing drugs that will not be picked up in doping tests, scientists say. Yawn ... This is really an old story. It parallels these previous rants: More on the athletes and steroids controversy As I said previously in the steroid story: Put yourself in the athlete’s position. He (she) is young and talented. This is the one time that they can profit from their talent. Once you reach a certain age, no more profit will exist. They live for athletic success. One can view this much like the story of Dr. Faustus. The name ‘Faust’ has become deeply rooted in European mythology as the name of a man who sold his soul to the devil in return for earthly power and riches. The Faust legend has been embellished and retold in many formats but its origin appears to be centred around a man who called himself Dr. Johann Faust, living in Heidelberg and employed as a calendar-maker during the early sixteenth century. This story should not surprise anyone. The athletes are young, immortal and will do anything for success. They will obviously risk their health. And some chemists will create chemicals for them. Follow the money!
Robert Centor, M.D.
12:12 PM
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