Physical Education · Ch 10 — Training & Doping in Sports
Human Growth Hormone
Human Growth Hormone
Human growth hormone (hGH) — also called somatotrophin — is naturally produced by the body, synthesised and secreted by cells in the anterior pituitary gland at the base of the brain. Its main role in growth is to stimulate the liver and other tissues to secrete insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1), which drives the production of cartilage cells (and so bone growth) and plays a key part in muscle and organ growth — all of which can boost sporting performance.
How it works and why athletes misuse it
hGH does not build muscle by itself in the way anabolic steroids do; instead it works mainly through IGF-1, which promotes tissue repair, collagen synthesis in tendons and ligaments, and fat metabolism. Athletes misuse it chiefly for faster recovery from heavy training and injury, a leaner body composition, and a belief — not always strongly supported by evidence at normal doses — that it adds an extra edge in power sports. Because its effects overlap with the body's own natural growth processes, misuse is particularly attractive to athletes recovering from serious injury who want to return to competition faster than natural healing allows.