Mark Cuban has advocated for an in-depth study of human growth hormone (HGH) and shared his idea and hope in the NBA's Board of Governors meeting in October.
Cuban believes a more informed decision should be made about whether HGH is able to fasten a player's recovery from injury or whether it belongs on the list of banned substances.
"The issue isn't whether I think it should be used," Cuban wrote in an email. "The issue is that it has not been approved for such use. And one of the reasons it hasn't been approved is that there have not been studies done to prove the benefits of prescribing HGH for athletic rehabilitation or any injury rehabilitation that I'm aware of. The product has such a huge (public) stigma that no one wants to be associated with it."
According to the Drug Enforcement Agency's web site, HGH is illegal to use for anti-aging, improved athletic performance and bodybuilding. The World Anti-Doping Agency also has HGH on its list of prohibited substances. The NBA also is sensitive to the ethical part of the discussion.
"I believe that professional sports leagues should work together and fund studies to determine the efficacy of HGH for rehabbing an injury," Cuban said. "Working together could lead us from the path of demonizing HGH and even testosterone towards a complete understanding. It could allow us to make a data based decision rather than the emotional decision we are currently making. And if it can help athletes recover more quickly, maybe we can extend careers and have healthier happier players and fans."
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