Do you believe Peyton or nah?
Late Saturday night, the Huffington Post reported that Al Jazeera America is planning to air a special documentary to expose a new doping ring, centering on major athletes. One of the stand-out and eye-raising names is current NFL legend, Peyton Manning, who’s being accused of using human growth hormone in 2011, when recovering from his career-threatening neck surgery.
The Indianapolis anti-aging clinic pharmacist, Charlie Sly, is featured in tonight’s The Dark Side: Secrets of the Sports Dopers documentary; and spoke to an undercover reporter working for Al Jazeera TV about how Manning was given a supply of HGH in 2011.
This wasn’t just one time, however, as Sly, who’s now based in Texas, alleges that Manning and his wife went to the clinic during normal business hours for regular treatments. While the illegal drugs were on the NFL’s banned substances list in 2011, the league didn’t begin testing until 2014.
Manning soon released a statement saying he’s never used HGH, failed any drug test and believes this won’t affect his hall-of-fame status when he retires in a few years. Whether or not that stands up for his bid in Canton, Ohio remains to be seen; but you can take a look at the statement below.
“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 do not find this story to be credible.”
Peyton Manning spokesman Ari Fleischer told me Manning has never used HGH, never failed any league drug tests & this won't affect his status
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 27, 2015