MONTREAL, July 29 (UPI) -- The World Anti-Doping Agency refuses to say whether tests for Human Growth Hormone will be ready for next month's Olympic Games, USA Today said Thursday.
"We decided there would be no announcement about a new test," said Larry Bowers of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency Wednesday. "The athletes know what's on the banned substances list.
HGH has been popular among athletes for more than a decade. Similar to steroids, it promotes muscle growth and has been undetectable.
"We are confident we will have a test in place," said WADA spokesman Frederic Donze. "If it's not ready for Athens, it will be shortly afterwards."
Urine and blood specimens can be stored and tested later once the test is finalized. But if there is a test ready in time for Athens, it will likely only be able to go back about 36 hours to detect HGH, which is a narrow window to catch an athlete, the newspaper said.
