The NFL and Testicular Atrophy
Now that I have your attention...
The AP is taking a mulligan on it's awarding of AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year to Brian Cushing of the Houston Texans. It all stems from Cushings use of HCG - a non-steroid substance that is banned from the NFL. I've read a lot of stories on the Cushing incident...heard a lot of shows talk about it. But, no one...NO ONE dug very deep in to the subject. The problem with the media today is too busy. They are forced to rip & read. No one seems to tell us what HCG is or what exactly it does. And, frankly, listeners won't listen to the gory details...they want a neat clean answer and the next topic. So, let it be printed here for all to reference when needed.
HCG is Human Chorionic Ganadotrophin. It's a female fertility drug that increases ovarian production. It is used in young men with delayed puberty that results in the testicles not descending. Good times. Men also use it when they need an increase of testoserone or sperm. It's a fertility drug.
The process is complicated...yet simple to understand. HCG is used as a masking drug for Anabolic Androgenic Steroid cycles (AAS). High levels of AAS mimic the bodies production of testosterone. This causes the glands to limit production.
Basically, steriods cause atrophy of the testicles. A player would use HCG to counter the effects of AAS.
I highly doubt Brian is a victim of delayed puberty. So, unless Mr. Cushing can get his girlfriend/wife/spouse to get on the same page regarding his need to use HCG for fertility reasons - he may be better off just admitting it was a mask.
In the end, I don't care. I pay to watch superhuman athletes do super human feats. Surely we cannot expect to watch these athletes shred their bodies one day and demand, them to play and be 100% for the next. It's just not possible. Something's got to give.
