Tall stature is an obvious advantage in sports such as basketball, football, field events, and volley¬ball. Many adult athletes take growth hormone to boost muscle mass and decrease fat. But the hormone is much more important and biologically-active during the process of growth. The availability of growth hormone on the market makes it almost inevitable that many parents and coaches might try to improve children’s athletic capacity by using growth hormone supplements to increase height, body size, and strength.
Several researches speculated about the safety and efficacy of growth hormone as a performance-boosting supplement in young athletes. These supplements are used clinically to treat short stature in children, but almost nothing is known about its effect on growth or performance in normal children. Growth Hormone increases height and lean body mass in children with growth hormone deficiency, but its effects are quite small.
Parents and coaches should also be aware that using Growth Hormone Supplements to increase athletic performance is a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison. With the intense competitiveness of some athletic programs, it is likely that some young athletes take growth hormone to increase stature and performance. However, this practice will always be a part of the dark side of sports.