The latest feat of Major League Baseball of extended “labor peace” with the Major League Players Association was reached on November 22, 2011.

MLB has apparently won out in its attempt to curb illicit use of human growth hormone (HGH) by its players, as per terms of the latest basic agreement between the parties.

From Sports-central.org:

The lockouts by both the NFL and NBA this year perhaps did not go by unnoticed by MLB brass in its seemingly under-the-radar collective bargaining talks with the MLBPA this past fall. MLB attempted to show up the other leagues’ rather unkempt labor relations.

And MLB Commissioner Bud Selig made it quite clear by way of his public display of self-aggrandizement during the week following a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) was reached, that his is the first North American professional sports league to agree to such a test for HGH. And perhaps it was indeed Selig’s latest and greatest coup yet, in such a pronouncement, however yet to be realized.

The agreement will run five years in duration and expire on December 1, 2016. Article 39, Sec. 7 (b) of the NFL’s CBA states: “The parties confirm that the Program on Anabolic Steroids and related Substances will include both annual blood testing and random blood testing for human growth hormone, with discipline for positive tests at the same level as for steroids.”

Tags: anabolic steroids, HGH, human growth hormone, Major League Baseball, MLB, NFL, steroids

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The new collective bargaining agreement of the Major League Baseball will include blood testing for human growth hormone.

A report in the New York Times said testing would begin in February during spring training.

The penalty for a positive HGH test will be the same as a positive steroid test — a 50-game suspension, according to the sources.

From Espn.go.com:

Baseball’s new labor contract also will include a rise in the minimum salary to $480,000 and luxury taxes on both amateur draft signings and international free agents coming to the major leagues.

There also will be a slight increase in the total of players eligible for salary arbitration after the 2012 season, when there also will be a new method to determine compensation for clubs losing top major league free agents. There also will be modifications to the luxury tax on high-payroll teams, but the threshold will remain at $178 million next year.

Sources told ESPN.com’s Jayson Stark that labor negotiators of the MLB have reached a “handshake agreement” on all major issues.

Tags: HGH, human growth hormone, Major League Baseball

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Juha Lallukka, Finnish media say cross-country skier, has made an admission that his blood samples show traces of human growth hormone (HGH).

Lallukka admitted that it was in his sample as per Finnish broadcasting company YLE and the Stt news agency, but lawyer of the skier denies his client used the illegal substance.

From Chinapost.com.tw:

Earlier this week, YLE quoted Finnish Ski Association chairman Matti Sundberg as saying a male Finnish skier is suspected of using illegal substances, but gave no other details.

Lallukka was a member of the Finnish team that finished fourth in the men’s 4×10-kilometer cross-country relay in Oslo, Norway, in March.

Lallukka and his lawyer were not available for comment.

Tags: HGH, human growth hormone, Juha Lallukka, skier

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The NFLPA has made a proposal regarding an HGH testing protocol after a meeting with two members of Congress that resulted in an apparent commitment to commence the collection of blood samples for the purposes of HGH testing.

The proposal details are contained in an item posted at ProPlayerInsiders.com, an official licensee of the NFLPA.

From Profootballtalk.nbcsports.com:

In a press release masquerading as an article, the NFLPA proposes that the process commence with a population study of all NFL players, in order to establish an HGH testing standard that accurately reflects the naturally occurring HGH in the bodily composition of NFL players.  This goes back to the union’s concern that the World Anti-Doping Agency has developed its testing threshold based on the constitutions of Olympic athletes, including Estonian figure skaters, Korean gymnasts, and Canadian curlers.   (Of course, a population study of NFL players that includes players who are currently taking HGH will skew the numbers, potentially creating a higher threshold.)

The union also proposes six major points:  (1) “Any player found in violation of the hGH policy has the right to all of the testing information”; (2) “The burden of proof rests with the NFL, not the player, as in the American judicial system where the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty”; (3) “The hGH testing process will be overseen by a neutral arbitrator agreed to by the NFL and by the NFLPA”; (4) “That no player shall be punished by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell until all of his appeals have been exhausted”; (5) “The testing and appellate processes shall be confidential until the player’s appeal rights are exhausted”; (6) “Players who are in the midst of the appellate process remain on their teams and continue to play until it has concluded.”

However, the agreement creates the false impression that no agreement on HGH testing has been reached as the NFLPA had agreed only to eventually “discuss and develop” the procedures for testing.

Tags: HGH, HGH testing, NFL players, NFLPA

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Bergen County Prosecutor John Molinelli has welcomed the reforms announced recently by Attorney General Paula Dow to combat steroid use in law enforcement.

The County prosecutor said these reforms would allow greater flexibility in confronting what has been a complex problem to law enforcement executives throughout the county.

From Northjersey.com:

“Now, a law enforcement executive — a prosecutor, a police chief — now it doesn’t matter if the police officer is showing up and performing his or her duties,” he said. “If non-prescribed steroid use exists, we can now not only do something, we have an obligation to do something. It gives executives more tools — so we’re not waiting to see something happen that’s wrong.”

Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia Valdes, a member of Dow’s study group that recommended the reforms, said Thursday that there was “no question” steroid testing would be put in place in Passaic County police departments. Molinelli echoed her statement, saying that police departments across Bergen County welcome the reforms.

“The overall concept of allowing law enforcement executives to be more aggressive in this area is a very huge and positive step forward,” he said.

Dow’s call for reform was the result of a six-month investigation into allegations that a doctor (now deceased) may have illegally prescribed anabolic steroids, human growth hormones (HGH), and other muscle building drugs to 248 public safety officials, mostly policemen and firefighters.

Tags: anabolic steroids, HGH, human growth hormones, muscle building drugs, steroid, steroid testing, steroid use

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Office of the New Jersey Attorney General recently took steps for reining in the use of anabolic steroids among law enforcement officers.

According to a news release, Attorney General Paula Dow said, “With these reforms in place, users will officially be on notice, prosecutors will be better armed to prosecute abusers and hopefully health insurers will be better positioned to control the exorbitant costs associated with the misuse of steroids.”

From Lehighvalleylive.com:

In 2010, New Jersey spent a little more than $11 million on prescriptions for anabolic steroids for state employees, according to Medco, the state’s prescription benefits manager.

The attorney general’s new regulations call for law enforcement officers to be tested for anabolic steroids, Human Growth Hormone (HGH) and Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG). Departments will be permitted to test officers, but not required.

Anyone who tests positive for the drug will be required to produce a letter from a physician explaining why the drug has been prescribed.

Prescriptions for steroids will be filled by mail order only by Medco to curb potential abuses, Dow said.

The reform also calls for quarterly meetings among a group of investigators, prosecutors and attorneys handling prescription drug fraud to help keep information on the matter fresh.

Phillipsburg police Chief Ed Mirenda said, “I don’t think any of this is out of line.” He added, “We’re here to enforce the law and we’re obviously not here to break the law. I would support any kind of drug testing.”

Tags: anabolic steroids, HCG, HGH, human chorionic gonadotropin, human growth hormone, steroids

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A number of reforms designed to curtail the improper prescription, distribution, possession and usage of anabolic steroids, Human Growth Hormone (HGH), and Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) among law enforcement personnel and state and local employees have been announced by Attorney General Paula T. Dow.

“It is important that we strengthen oversight, regulation and investigation in order to discourage the improper use of steroids throughout New Jersey’s law enforcement community and ensure the public’s confidence,” said Dow.

From NJtoday.net:

According to the report, issued by the Study Group, the legitimate medical uses of steroids, HGH and HCG are limited to a very small number of medical conditions. However, because there was little scrutiny until recently of prescription claims filed by law enforcement officers and others receiving steroids, HGH and HCG, the potential for improper prescribing of these substances was high. In addition, the lack of disciplinary action by regulators against physicians who improperly prescribed these substances and the failure to adequately screen and monitor prescription drugs created a recipe for abuse.

The Attorney General’s reforms address three key issues: misuse of anabolic steroids and human growth hormones, improper prescription of these substances by physicians, and increased health care costs linked to such conduct. Dow intends to adopt the following recommendations made in the report.

“Law enforcement holds a special trust based on its authority and must be held to the highest standard of professionalism. These reforms tighten the safeguards against abuse not only by law enforcement, but by other members of public health plans and doctors who improperly prescribe these substances,” remarked Dow.

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Illicit use of HGH (human growth hormone) has become common among young American male weightlifters, according to a new study published in The American Journal on Addictions.

The study also disclosed that illicit use of HGH in this population is often associated with polysubstance abuse involving both performance-enhancing and classical drugs.

From Starglobaltribune.com:

Results found that 27 (12 percent) reported illicit use of HGH and/or its close relative, insulin-like growth factor-I. All of these 27 men had also used anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS), and 15 (56 percent) also reported current or past dependence on opioids, cocaine, and/or ecstasy.

These findings suggest that illicit HGH use is common, and is usually associated with abuse of both AAS and ordinary street drugs.

“The long-term risks of high-dose HGH use are little studied, but available evidence suggests that long-term high-dose HGH may have serious medical consequences, including cardiac, endocrine, and respiratory effects, as well as increased risk for certain cancers,” Brennan notes. “Our findings suggest that mounting illicit HGH abuse may represent a dangerous new form of drug abuse with potentially severe public health consequences.”

The researchers were led by Brian P. Brennan, MD, MSc, of McLean Hospital and Harvard Medical School.

Tags: AAS, anabolic-androgenic steroids, HGH, HGH abuse, human growth hormone, use of HGH

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Winner of a record seven Cy Young Awards, baseball pitching star Roger Clemens, sat silently in federal court as his trial opened on charges of perjury and obstruction of Congress.

Clemens is facing charges that carry a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison.

From NPR.org:

Clemens remained expressionless as the prosecutor, Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Durham, told the jury that the government had physical proof that the 48-year-old onetime pitching ace had been repeatedly injected with anabolic steroids and human growth hormone.

Clemens, whose fastball was so powerful he earned the nickname “Rocket,” is not charged with using steroids or other performance-enhancing drugs. Rather, it is his denial of steroid and HGH use in testimony before a House committee in 2008 that could cost him his freedom. He is charged with six different counts of perjury, making false statements and obstructing a congressional investigation into the use of banned substances in baseball.

Clemens said during his congressional testimony, “I’ve been accused of something I’m not guilty of. … I’ve never taken steroids or HGH.”

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A warning was issued by the Major League Baseball (MLB) to major and minor league players last week for stop ingesting deer antler spray.

Baseball players used to felt safe using a deer antler spray as an alternative to steroids with almost no risk of flunking a drug test.

From Sportsillustrated.cnn.com:

Deer antlers? Yes, chemists have figured out that the velvet from immature deer antlers includes insulin-like growth factor, or IGF-1, which mediates the level of human growth hormone in the body, and is also banned by MLB and the World Anti-Doping Agency, among others, for its muscle-building and fat-cutting effects.

The antlers are harvested from young deer, ground up and packaged into spray form. The substance is sprayed under the tongue. One manufacturer touts among its benefits “anabolic or growth stimulation,” “athletic performance” and “muscular strength and endurance.”

IGF-1, like HGH, cannot be detected in the urine tests used by baseball. Under the right circumstances, it could be detected in a blood test, but the players association has not agreed to blood testing.

MLB added the product to its list of “potentially contaminated nutritional supplements.”

Tags: HGH, IGF-1, Major League Baseball, MLB, nutritional supplements, steroids

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