Much has been written about human growth hormone testing, but little has been said about the emotions around HGH use.
Former NFL player Christian Fauria told the Los Angeles Times about the pressure he felt to take HGH and what kept him from doing it.
The 13-year veteran tight end, who retired in 2007, said he bought HGH late in his career, but he couldn't bring himself to use it.
Fauria played for four teams and won two Super Bowls with the New England Patriots. He admitted he wanted to do anything he could to keep playing, but he stopped short of using the HGH needle.
Fauria said the world of HGH never seemed very safe and had the appearance of anonymity. However, he was willing to try doping, but not at the cost of its long-term effects.
-- Bill Bradley, contributing editor
