It turns out that the blood test for HGH can only detect the substance a few hours after the dose:
“The fact that it’s been around for a few thousand tests and only one positive suggests that either there’s much less growth hormone being used than we thought, which is doubtful, or the period of detectability is really pretty short — a few hours. It’s probably the latter,” said Catlin, adding detection probably would work only with “middle-of-the-night testing.”
Victor Conte explains how to get around the test:
Victor Conte, whose Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative triggered a federal investigation of steroids use and distribution among athletes, also criticized the blood test. He said it would detect little and called it “flawed” because baseball will collect only postgame blood samples.
“It wouldn’t take much of an IQ for a player to circumvent this proposed HGH testing procedure,” he wrote in an e-mail to The Associated Press. “A baseball player could possibly inject HGH as soon as leaving a ballpark and test negative from a blood sample collected postgame the following day. HGH injections are routinely done at night before bed, so a morning blood sample would be the target. The available test for HGH requires a random blood collection protocol to be considered anything more than a PR move by MLB.”
A PR move and a waste of money.
The perfect test for MLB. One that yields almost 100% negative results.
Does anyone really think they want a test or a test program that is effective. They say they have a test program and test for PED’s, and they do, but how many holes do you think there may be in it?. Do you think they want to catch a superstar in the middle of a pennant race?.
Manny’s getting caught seemed more like punishment for his behaviour in getting out of a contractual obligation. Can’t have other players start doing the same thing. So it sent a message as well.
The PR is well worth the money, because the Feds and Congress get off their back by having a program and adding HGH to the list of drugs tested, and the fans will think the problem is solved, but nothing much changes, except perhaps players having to use designer drugs which are more expensive.
Remember, this is a league that in 1998 had their Doctors give a presentation to MLB owners about the benefits of players using steroids. Bud Selig has not changed.
And there is more than one BALCO out there, and one wonders who is profiting off what may be a boom in demand for designer drugs that enable players to defeat any testing program. Players making the minimum may not be able to afford them, but perhaps some agents are willing to make an investment to enhance their better players, and those making good money as a result of getting a FA contract can certainly afford it come their next contract year.