Detection of growth hormone abuse in sport.
OBJECTIVE
To develop a test for GH abuse in sport.


METHODS
A double blind placebo controlled study of one month's GH administration to 102 healthy non-competing but trained subjects. Blood levels of nine markers of GH action were measured throughout the study and for 56 days after cessation of GH administration. Blood samples were also taken from 813 elite athletes both in and out of competition.


RESULTS
GH caused a significant change in the nine measured blood markers. Men were more sensitive to the effects of GH than women. IGF-I and N-terminal extension peptide of procollagen type III were selected to construct formulae which gave optimal discrimination between the GH and placebo groups. Adjustments were made to account for the fall in IGF-I and P-III-P with age and the altered distribution seen in elite athletes. Using a cut-off specificity of 1:10,000 these formulae would allow the detection of up to 86% of men and 60% of women abusing GH at the doses used in this study.


CONCLUSIONS
We report a methodology that will allow the detection of GH abuse. This will provide the basis of a robust and enforceable test identifying those who are already cheating and provide a deterrent to those who may be tempted to do so.
Powrie
J K
JK
Department of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, 3rd Floor, Thomas Guy house, Guy's Hospital, London SE1 9RT, UK. jake.powrie@kcl.ac.uk
Bassett
E E
EE
Rosen
T
T
Jørgensen
J O
JO
Napoli
R
R
Sacca
L
L
Christiansen
J S
JS
Bengtsson
B A
BA
Sönksen
P H
PH
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D004300:Doping in Sports; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood*; D010919:Placebos; D011347:Procollagen / Q000097:blood*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*
D015415:Biomarkers; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D010919:Placebos; D011347:Procollagen; C041876:procollagen Type III-N-terminal peptide; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D013006:Growth Hormone