Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning responded quickly and vehemently to an Al Jazeera report, released this past weekend, which alleged that Manning had used illegally obtained human growth hormone to help him return from a significant neck injury in 2011 and continue his illustrious and lucrative NFL career. Manning, a veteran of 17 NFL seasons, claimed in an interview with ESPN's Lisa Salters that the report was "completely fabricated" and left him "disgusted" and "sickened."
Manning may have point. Or several points, as it were. It turns out, Al Jazeera doesn't believe that they've actually even levied any allegations against Manning. Al Jazeera journalist Deborah Davies appeared on NBC's "Today" show on Tuesday and told the hosts that Al Jazeera does not have any evidence that Manning took HGH.
"Do you have specific evidence that Peyton Manning himself has ever taken HGH?" -@CarsonDaly asked AJ reporter https://t.co/BB4e040S2B
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) December 29, 2015
"We have not said that in the program," Davies said in response to host Carson Daly's question as to whether the news network possessed "specific evidence" regarding Manning's use of the illegal performance enhancing drug. "The only allegation in the program from Charlie Sly is that human growth hormone was sent repeatedly from the Guyer to Ashley Manning in Florida."
Pressed further on whether the documentary included any evidence against Manning, Davies remained staunch. "We're not making the allegation against Peyton Manning."
The 50-minute documentary, "The Dark Side," which aired Saturday, focuses on pharmacist Charlie Sly, a one-time intern at the Guyer Institute, an anti-aging clinic in Indianapolis. Per Sly, via Huffington Post, he was "part of a medical team that helped [Manning] recover" from his neck surgery in 2011. As part of that recovery, Sly alleged that he and other members of Guyer sent HGH to Manning's wife, Ashley, so that the quarterback's name was never associated with the drug.
"All the time we would be sending Ashley Manning drugs," Sly says in the video, which you can view here. "Like growth hormone, all the time, everywhere, Florida. And it would never be under Peyton's name, it would always be under her name."
As noted by Frank Schwab of Yahoo Sports though, there is no evidence beyond Sly's claims that Manning or his wife received or took HGH. And while Davies may be technically correct in her assertion that Al Jazeera never claimed Manning was taking HGH, they certainly seemed to lead viewers to that conclusion.
Here's Schwab's take on the how the documentary positions the Mannings and HGH:
"The documentary, with brooding music, talks about how 'Manning's career almost ended' in 2011 because of a neck injury. Then it says Sly was 'part of a medical team' that helped Manning. Manning did go to the Guyer Institute in Indianapolis, under the watch of the Colts. Sly says on the hidden camera that Ashley Manning was sent drugs. Then Davies' voice comes on again, to say 'growth hormone is banned in the NFL.' Last I checked, Ashley Manning doesn't play in the NFL. The documentary clearly suggests Peyton Manning did something wrong."
It's probably sensible for Al Jazeera to back off, considering Manning told Peter King of NBC's "Football Night in America" that he'll "probably" sue as a result of the report. But there's also this fact to consider - Sly has already recanted.
