NFL Has An HGH Scandal On Its Hands Beyond Rodney Harrison
Published August 31, 2007
According to “sources,” ESPN is reporting that Rodney Harrison, a 14-year NFL veteran, will be suspended for 4 games after admitting to federal investigators and to the league that he used HGH. ESPN is also reporting that at least one NFL assistant coach has been questioned as part of this probe and is considered to be “a person of interest” in an on-going investigation.
This is the second story in a week to link an NFL player to the use of HGH, as quarterback Tim Couch admitted to using HGH for a week to help his recovery from surgery. Couch was not under contract with any league team when he says he used the drug.
Human growth hormone is the ideal PED for athletes. And as I’ve been saying for years, none of this should be a surprise to anyone who has been following the chain of events that started with the raid on Balco Labs. Athletes have always, and will always, be looking for that edge and athletes - especially aging athletes - think that HGH is the best way to get that edge.
This story is enormous for many reasons, not the least of which is that Harrison admitted to using HGH without any kind of hoopla or leaks. Granted his name was linked to the Albany, NY/Internet-based PED scandal, but no other athlete on this list – so far – has publicly admitted to using HGH or steroids, or has been severely punished as a result of this association. The admission by Harrison will cost him at least $470,000.
You can be sure that for Harrison to admit to using HGH and to take this kind of fall that the authorities had a lot of info on him. You can be just as sure that this story, as it pertains to the NFL, does not begin and/or end with Rodney Harrison. HGH is the perfect PED for any athlete and has been advertised as offering incredible benefits to those who are willing to take it. HGH is undetectable with the current state of professional team sports drug testing standards.
Sal Marinello is a National Strength and Conditioning Association Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist and Certified Personal Trainer, a U.S.A. Weightlifting Certified Coach, a full-time, private Professional Strength and Conditioning Coach, an assistant football coach and a Head Strength Coach for a suburban New Jersey High School. He writes a lot and has no free time. 
- NFL Has An HGH Scandal On Its Hands Beyond Rodney Harrison
- Published: August 31, 2007
- Type: News
- Section: Sports
- Filed Under: Sports: Football (American), Sci/Tech: Health/Fitness
- Part of a feature: The Healthy Skeptic
- Writer: Sal Marinello
- Sal Marinello's BC Writer page
- Sal Marinello's personal site
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Comments on this articleComments
i don't disagree that the argument can be made that if hgh is legal, you as an individual have the right to take it regardless of your reasons for taking it.
however, if the nfl, nba, mlb, olympics or any other organizations say that those who compete cannot take any substance that can aid in performance, and clearly define what these substances are, it is their right to conduct their business as they see fit.
furthermore, if athletes want to advance the position that they should be entitled to take whatever drugs they want because it's their ass on the line and that their livelihood is at stake, let them make this argument. as of this point, not one athlete has taken this position and has said that regardless of what certain medical experts say, that it's their right to take what they want to help them to be as good as they can be. if anything, athletes have gone to great lengths to hide their use of these substances.
i'm waiting for an athlete to take the very defendable position that jeff has stated above.
what up with Wade Wilson? Should I consider hgh to improve my desk performance??? I lean at least two inches closer to a much larger monitor these days...This is certainly affecting my performance.
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How about freedom to medicate?? I own my body, and I can put whatever I want in my body.
Anyone who says you can't is making a claim of ownership over your body, plain and simple.
So decide, are we free people who own are bodies or does someone else own us as slaves?
There's no gray area on this one.