What human growth hormone lacks might be the very thing that makes it the latest drug of choice for athletes looking for an edge.

For a few more months, at least, there is no widespread HGH testing available, and the four major professional leagues in the United States don’t test for it at all. Don’t think the athletes looking for a quick fix with little or no risk don’t know that.

“People have shifted to growth hormone because, ‘I’ve got a free ride, nobody’s looking at us, so I’ll take my chances,”‘ said Dr. Gary Wadler, a member of the World Anti-Doping Agency and a spokesman for the American College of Sports Medicine.

“With no detection, there’s no disincentive,” Wadler said. “You (only) get detected if somebody walks into the men’s or ladies room and you’ve got a needle in your muscle. Or you get caught up in a sting.”

At least 13 people have been charged recently in a nationwide investigation into illegal sales of performance-enhancing drugs. Anabolic steroids and human growth hormone were seized by state and federal agents last week during raids of two pharmacies in Orlando, Fla.

Although some professional and elite athletes have been linked to the investigation, prosecutors have made it clear they’re concerned with distributors, not users. But it raises the question of how popular HGH is, and whether athletes are using it because they hope to avoid detection.

Human growth hormone occurs naturally in the body, and synthetic versions have been prescribed for children with growth issues and adults with pituitary gland problems. The synthetic version has become popular with athletes, because it’s believed to help build muscle mass. But it also can make everything bigger – hands, feet, heads and so on.

HGH abuse, Wadler said, can have the same effect as acromegaly, a disease more commonly known as giantism. Bigger, though, isn’t necessarily enough.

“If you look under the microscope, those muscles are not necessarily strong muscles, they’re big,” he said. “Then I can take low-dose steroids, try to stay underneath the detection level and make those bigger muscles stronger, bigger muscles.”

“I suspect that’s what’s going on today.”

Doing something about it, though, is an ongoing challenge.

After 10 years and several million dollars, scientists and anti-doping officials have come up with two blood tests that can detect the use of synthetic HGH. The first test is currently in the mass production phase, and is expected to be available for use at the 34 WADA-accredited labs by the end of the year. It was used at the Athens and Turin Olympics.

But the test only detects HGH for a day or two after it’s used. A second test, which could detect synthetic HGH for a week to two weeks after use, is expected to be available sometime in 2008.

Scientists could come up with 100 tests, though, and none will do any good unless they’re used.

Although HGH is banned by Major League Baseball and the National Football League, neither tests for the drug right now. Both question the reliability of the blood tests and want a urine test developed.

The leagues have given Don Catlin, chief of the Olympic Analytical Laboratory at UCLA, $1 million worth of grants to research and develop a urine HGH test.

“I’m interested in a test, but I’m not interested in the test that’s been developed by WADA,” said Gene Upshaw, executive director of the NFL players’ union.

“Think about a blood test. There is no conclusive evidence it even works, that’s the first thing. Second, to even detect HGH in your system, it almost has to be done when it’s taken. That means our guys would have to be pin cushions. They’re not going to be pin cushions.”

Wadler said that’s ridiculous. Players are stuck with needles all the time, whether it’s to get an IV, a cortisone shot or an injection of painkiller. They also undergo routine physicals that include bloodwork.

But there’s a difference between putting something in the body and taking it out, Upshaw said. Until someone comes up with another, less-invasive way to detect for HGH, NFL players won’t be taking the test.

“You don’t see anyone defending anyone that’s cheating,” Upshaw said. “(But) I’m not ready to expose my players to being tested, especially with blood, until there’s a reliable test.”

Catlin has said he can’t put a timeline on when a urine HGH test might be available. But almost everyone agrees it won’t be anytime soon.

If that’s the case, the use of HGH likely will continue, undetected except through drug busts and court cases.

“You can deny, deny, deny. But at end of day, the facts speaks for themselves,” Wadler said. “This is not to be dealt with in matters of incrementalism. This requires a comprehensive approach.”