SCIENTISTS at the University of Southampton are working on a test to detect growth hormone abuse in sport.

A team of researchers returned from the IAAF World Athletics Championships in Paris last month, where they collected blood samples from athletes to help with the study.

Growth hormone (GH) is a naturally occurring hormone, which has the effect of increasing lean body mass and decreasing fat mass - properties which have led to its abuse by people wishing to enhance their physical performance. Its use is banned by the International Olympic Committee.

The Southampton team is led by Dr Richard Holt and Professor Peter Sonksen, of the endocrinology and metabolism sub-division of the university's School of Medicine.

Named GH-2004, the project has received total funding of US$1m from the US Anti-Doping Agency and US$1.9m from the World Anti-Doping Agency.

Dr Holt said: "The GH-2004 study has four parts. Firstly, blood samples will be taken from 300 athletes of differing ethnic groups immediately following competition in a range of differing sports and disciplines.

"We have already begun collecting these at the World Badminton Championships and the IAAF World Athletics Champion-ships in Paris.

"We hope to encourage more athletes to help with the project over the next few months, as recruitment at the World Athletics Championships was disappointingly low despite immense support from the IAAF."

He added: "Secondly, we will be studying 60 of these athletes every three months over the period of a year to check that the GH-dependent "markers" do not change with time, season or training.

"Another 50 athletes will be recruited following a sporting injury, so we can study them during their recovery period.

"Thirdly, we are looking to recruit 90 non-competing, but active, volunteers who will be treated with GH for 28 days to mimic the effects of GH doping for our research."

This final part of the study will take place at the Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Facility based at Southampton General Hospital.

Volunteers are already being recruited. Anyone interested in taking part should call Dr Cathy McHugh on 023 8079 4265 or Clare Hartley on 023 8079 6856.