Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning, as well as other prominent professional athletes, have reportedly been linked to performance-enhancing drugs from an Indiana-based anti-aging clinic, according to ESPN. Manning was listed on Al Jazeera's undercover probe, which reports that he was allegedly given human growth hormone in 2011 while recovering from surgery.
The documentary, "The Dark Side" is the result of a month-long investigation that went undercover in an attempt to find the widespread nature of PEDs in sports, according to The Huffington Post. The report states that pharmacist, Charlie Sly, allegedly spoke to an undercover reporter but later recanted his story to both Al Jazeera and ESPN. Manning allegedly received steroids and other drugs shipped to his home address in 2011, but they were shipped in Manning's wife's name, Ashley, according to the report.
"For the record, I have never used HGH. It absolutely never happened. The whole thing is totally wrong," said Manning, via ESPN. "It's such a fabrication, I'm not losing any sleep over it, that's for sure. The allegation that I would do something like that is complete garbage and is totally made up. It never happened. Never. I really cant' believe somebody would put something like this on the air. Whoever said this is making this stuff up."
The Broncos have released a statement defending their quarterback, stating that the report makes false claims. "Knowing Peyton Manning and everything he stands for, the Denver Broncos support him 100 percent. These are false claims made to Al Jazeera, and we don't believe the report. Peyton is rightfully outraged by the allegations, which he emphatically denied to our organization and which have been publicly renounced by the source who initially provided them. Throughout his NFL career, particularly during his four seasons with the Broncos, Peyton has shown nothing but respect for the game. Our organization is confident Peyton does things the right way, and we don find this story to be credible."
Sly has told ESPN that he recanted the story after realizing they had used information that he had "made up." "When I realized Al Jazeera was using secret taping and Collins (reporter) as a so-called investigate reporter, I was baffled," said Sly, via ESPN. "I cannot believe that can happen. That's why I recanted the story. It wasn't true, and I was trying to pull one over on Collins to see if he had any ide of what he was talking about." The report links several major athletes to HGH, including Green Bay Packers linebackers Mike Neal and Julius Peppers, Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard and Washington Nationals infielder Ryan Zimmerman.
