Human growth hormone, or GH (or a releasing factor that stimulates GH secretion), is available for sale on the Internet. Yet the use of GH is banned by many sport governing bodies, some of which test...

Human growth hormone, or GH (or a releasing factor that stimulates GH secretion), is available for sale on the Internet. Yet the use of GH is banned by many sport governing bodies, some of which test their athletes for use of GH as a supplement. Research the use of GH, then answer the following questions.

1. Why would athletes want to use GH? What effect does it have in individuals who have reached maturity? How does it produce these effects?

2. Are there known risks of using GH supplements? If yes, explain your findings.

3. Even if little research has been conducted on the long-term effects of using GH as a supplement, what are some of the suspected risks of long-term GH supplementation?

4. Based on your findings, what would you recommend to a teenage athlete who is tempted to use GH? Why?