BEST IN TEST! *********************** Human growth hormone (hGH) is a natural hormone produced in the human body by the pituitary gland. It's available as a synthetically produced injectable drug, and has become a popular but expensive medication prescribed in anti-aging therapies and in the treatment of AIDS-related wasting. Bodybuilders may illicitly self-administer hGH to improve size and strength, usually by subcutaneous injection into the lower abdomen. Excessive or high-dose use can lead to significant or even dangerous side effects, like acromegaly (bone growth of the feet, jaw, forehead, etc.) and enlargement of the internal organs. Some of the brand names currently available are Genotropin®, Humatrope®, Nutropin®, Protropin®, Saizen®, Serostim® and Somatotropin®. Counterfeit products containing no real hGH have been identified on the black market, and have even shown up on pharmacy shelves - potentially jeopardizing those who need it medically. So far, I've heard of only a handful of investigations involving hGH. In one case, about three months ago, two FDA enforcement agents showed up banging on the door of a local client of mine at about seven o'clock one morning. They were following up on a California investigation into counterfeit hGH distribution by mail, and had information that one package had been previously sent to him. They peppered him with questions about it, but even at that early hour he somehow mustered the sleepy smarts to decline giving any answers, to refuse their demands to enter his house, and to instead hand them my business card. Undoubtedly disappointed, they left. Shortly thereafter, when I arrived at work, they were waiting at my law office. They were extremely polite, and claimed that they had no interest in arresting anybody, but rather were merely concerned about the possibility that my client might have endangered himself or another by consumption of this counterfeit product. I thanked them for their concerns, promising to generally advise the muscle community of their concerns. While their true intentions are open to speculation, that was the last we saw of them. Okay, here's the law: hGH is a prescription drug but is not on the federal list of controlled substances (found in 21 USC § 812(c)). Congress considered scheduling it along with steroids, but chose not to do so. However …