Bradbury: Legalize HGH

I understand what Bradbury is driving at, but I think that there are a bunch of flaws in his argument.

1) HGH is not like a candy vitamin - it can have some nasty side-effects that aren't worth "gaining an edge over the competition."

2) If players are looking for anything to gain said advantage - or as Bradbury put it, a placebo to THINK they're gaining an advantage, then by nature they will have to go to something illegal. It wouldn't be an edge if everyone were using it legally.

3) Gaining an edge in this manner is cheating. it doesn't matter if a player thinks it is a make-or-break year or whatever, it unlevels the playing field. If they aren't good enough, then they aren't good enough. Better yet, perhaps they could try place-hitting instead of swining for the fences. Heck Cobb did it, why can't anyone else?

4) (and finally) Unprescribed use of HGH is illegal OUTSIDE of baseball, not just banned by baseball. so these guys aren't just cheating, they're also breaking the law, and it's not up to baseball to legalize it.

“The only dangerous substance I can think of that's both physically and psychologically addictive AND legal is tobacco, and the result is a lot of people dying from it; but tobacco was already an established product before its harmful properties were discovered, and even now the tobacco companies are skewing the evidence.”

Actually, the additives added to the tobacco makes it much, much more dangerous and addictive then the tobacco itself. Its kind of funny that the tobacco industry is free to add whatever horrible concoction of chemicals it wants without problem but we cant get new drugs approved for 10 years or more until they are proven safe and side-effect free… What a mixed up country we have...

HGH regrows human muscle at a faster rate so that atheletes can start working out again. It does have an affect on athletic performance, becuase it'll allow users to get workout more frequently and get stronger faster.

napes22 got it right. while it won't make someone someone a better hitter or pitcher from the skill standpoint it will allow them to use whatever skill they posses with more frequency due to the fact that HGH allows muscle tissue to repair a marginally faster rate. If used in season it amounts to someone playing 100% over 162 games without having to suffer through sore arms, shoulders, knees, and such.

Sabereconomics.com also had an article written in April or May how there is no evidence that steroids or hgh actually improves performance.

Again, this whole situation is about opinion. Do we care that the athletes are doing something illegal or is it the fact they are enhancing their performance. I hope to visit this issue on my blog soon.

I agree with theillien.

These guys cheated, and it doesn't matter whether this stuff worked for them or not - it is their INTENTION that was wrong, and that is so disturbing.

I don't think that there are too many positive spins you can put on the use of HGH, Steroids, or anything else for that matter.

HGH is not addictive. You are then implying that we are all addicted to HGH whether you've shot up or not because everyone has it in their body naturally and that's why they can't test for it. There is no difference between HGH produced naturally in your body and injected HGH. Otherwise, there would be a test for it.

HGH does not have side effects when used as prescribed. Side effects are only seen when the recommended dosage is exceeded and under a REAL doctor's supervision, that doesn't happen.

People do not do illegal drugs because they are illegal, they do them because they get the effects they want from these drugs that you can't get legally. HGH should be a manditory part of injury recovery for all players and anyone found using it outside of that window should suffer steep and severe penalties individually. Anything that can be done to keep these players healthy and reduce unfortunate career ending injuries and injury prone players is a gain for baseball. Why shouldn't the health of the players be improved with this? I'd rather see players on the field instead of on the DL with repeat injuries over and over because it doesn't heal back strong enough.

Steroids can kill you even when you are using them as directed while HGH has no side effects so long as it is used within medical guidelines and that is what most players aren't doing. HGH is used in children in the UK with stunted growth to make them grow normally with zero side effects. Do not just say that HGH produces side effects for everyone because you are looking at a whole generation of abusers. That is not the standard for everyone including those that use HGH properly and within guidelines.

By the way, HGH does make you stronger. Increased muscle mass = more muscle strength. All those little tears that you get in muscles from working out heal back stronger and with more mass and therefore, make you stronger and HGH accelerates that process. If it is constantly working in the body all season, that player is constantly getting stronger instead of wearing down over the course of the season. Yes, it is a performance enhancer when used in that way. I use two supplements myself that naturally increase HGH in the body and I noticed a difference inside of two weeks as to how fast my muscles were growing and you can get those at GNC. I no longer get sore for a couple days after I work out over time and I feel like I definately recover faster which is all great news. I worked out for about a year without these supplements and would get worn down after awhile and have to take a week or so off to heal muscle injuries, but after about four months of using these supplements, I get no pain or soreness whatsoever. I don't feel this is a coincidence. Athletes no doubt stress their body much more than I do, so I can imagine what some of those players go through injury wise and why they may decide to take HGH because at least for me, the benefits are obvious. Let them use it so long as they are on the DL and as long as a licensed medical doctor is overseeing their treatment.

Sess, excellent summary. A couple of notes though:
The first, you are dead on with how baseball players and professional athletes treat their bodies. There was a game this season in which Carmona went 7 or 8 strong and then could not be found in the clubhouse for an interview. Why, because he was working out!
Second, steroid use, like HGH use, if prescribed and used correctly is not always life threatening. I know people who are prescribed steroids for certain illnesses and have been on them long term - the side effects, terrible acne.

Great summary otherwise.

To access PubMed, you will likely need to go to a University or College library that subscribes to it. It is an extraordinarily expense subscription but most people live close enough to an institution that subscribes. I strongly urge anyone that has a serious interest in this subject to properly educate themselves. One afternoon in a University library and you will be the best informed barstool hGH expert on your block.