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Article: Running a risk - Patriots safety Rodney Harrison is serving a four- game suspension after admitting he used inappropriately obtained human growth hormone, a substance banned from professional sports. He is the latest of many athletes accused of, or admitting use of, the hormone in what experts say is a useless attempt to improve their performance.
- Article from:
- The Boston Globe (Boston, MA)
- Article date:
- September 17, 2007
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright 2007 The Boston Globe. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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Human growth hormone has become the fix of the moment.
Patriots safety Rodney Harrison said he injected the drug to help
heal his football injuries. Other professional athletes allegedly
took it as part of a clandestine cocktail that they hoped would boost
their recovery or power. And thousands of older people have flocked
to clinics that promote the drug as a fountain of youth.
But there is little or no evidence that human growth hormone
provides any of those benefits to healthy individuals, researchers
and hormone specialists say, while overuse carries serious risks,
including diabetes and heart abnormalities.
In addition, use of the drug is banned in the Olympics and
professional sports. ...