Possible side effects.

[Chameleon75]

People are concerned now because the players were told the substances were safe and legal under WADA/ASADA. They were not told the risks prior to the drugs programme starting.

Individual athletes bear the risks of their own actions.

The other thing is that cancer can strike at anytime after exposure to a risk event. Have there been any longitudinal studies of athletes that have been on HGH or related peptides to track for the incidence of cancer?

No studies of drugs being used as peds, ethics committees won't allow it.

 

[IanW]

People are concerned now because the players were told the substances were safe and legal under WADA/ASADA. They were not told the risks prior to the drugs programme starting.

Individual athletes bear the risks of their own actions.

The other thing is that cancer can strike at anytime after exposure to a risk event. Have there been any longitudinal studies of athletes that have been on HGH or related peptides to track for the incidence of cancer?

Theres an ongoing one right now, but its confused by issues around paperwork and who took what.

 

[Albert Ross]

The other thing is that cancer can strike at anytime after exposure to a risk event. Have there been any longitudinal studies of athletes that have been on HGH or related peptides to track for the incidence of cancer?

No but there is a lot of evidence about disproportionately high incidents of illness amongst athletes / sports where doping was 'known' to exist. It got so bad cycling was maintaining a list of cyclists who were dying young and got a bit chuffed when the figure dipped back under 10 a year.

In Italy they launched an investigation into why so many soccer players are getting Lou Gehrig's disease. Someone cheekily pointed out that other sports are played on grass, and other leagues head the ball

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2008/oct/08/europeanfootball.serieafootball

 

[Albert Ross]

If beta thymosin-4 or AOD-9604 gives cancer a kick up the bum so it keeps running hard in the fourth quarter, then thats enough to have a good hard look at what it brings to the club, and figure if it's worth it.

At the very least if it is to be administered any reasonable person who knew its properties would inquire of its recipients medical history. That is something Essendon is accused of not doing. That is negligent at best.