Could Performance-Enhancing Drugs Be Responsible for Small Pituitary Volume in Retired Boxers?
IN RESPONSE: In our study, use of any kind of drug affecting the pituitary function was an exclusion criterion. None of the retired amateur boxers had a history of using any performance-enhancing drug, such as anabolic steroids or growth hormone, during their career. Although the use of doping agents, growth hormone in particular, is well known among professional athletes in Western countries (1), growth hormone vials were not available in Turkey, especially during the years of the retired boxers’ active careers. Moreover, to avoid the use of doping agents, national and international amateur boxing federations have very strict regulations. Although not enough data are available on the effects of long-term use of growth hormone on pituitary function and volume in athletes, one might expect the suppression of the growth hormone axis and decreased pituitary volume as suggested. However, after the cessation of growth hormone or anabolic steroids, the suppression of the relevant axis recove
