Peyton denies HGH allegation
Al Jazeera report is set to air today
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Peyton Manning strongly denied a report set to air on Al Jazeera that contends the Denver QB received human growth hormone through his wife during his recovery from neck fusion surgeries in 2011 in Indianapolis.
In a statement Saturday night, Manning said: “The allegation that I would do something like that is complete garbage and is totally made up. It never happened. Never.”
He added, “I really can’t believe somebody would put something like this on the air. Whoever said this is making stuff up.”
The allegations surfaced in an Al Jazeera undercover probe into doping in global sports that is set to air today and was shared in advance with the Huffington Post.
The report claims Manning received HGH from an Indianapolis anti-aging clinic in 2011 while he was with the Colts. It said the drug, which was banned by the NFL in the 2011 collective bargaining agreement, was delivered to his wife, Ashley, so that the quarterback’s name was never attached to the shipments.
Liam Collins, a British hurdler, went undercover and spoke with Charlie Sly, an Austin, Texas-based pharmacist who worked at the Guyer Institute, the Indiana-based anti-aging clinic in 2011. Sly allegedly names Manning and other high-profile athletes as having received HGH from the clinic.
However, Sly backtracks in a subsequent statement to Al Jazeera, saying Collins secretly recorded his conversations without his knowledge or consent.
“The statements on any recordings or communications that Al Jazeera plans to air are absolutely false and incorrect,” Sly said. “To be clear, I am recanting any such statements and there is no truth to any statement of mine that Al Jazeera plans to air. Under no circumstances should any of those recordings, statements or communications be aired.”
The NFL and players union added human growth hormone testing to the collective bargaining agreement signed in 2011 but the side didn’t agree to testing terms until 2014. Nobody has tested positive, which would trigger a four-game suspension.
Manning, who joined the Broncos in 2012, has been sidelined since Nov. 15 because of a left foot injury.
BROWNS: Linebacker Armonty Bryant will not play in today’s game at Kansas City after he and safety De’Ante Saunders were arrested Christmas morning during a traffic stop.
Saunders, a practice squad player, was cited for driving under the influence after a traffic stop in suburban Brook Park at 2:16 a.m. Friday, according to a State Highway Patrol citation. He was driving 75 mph in a 60 mph zone, the citation said.
Bryant, who is second on the team with 5½ sacks, was arrested at the scene for having the medication Adderall without a prescription, Cvetan said. He was released after being taken to the patrol’s Brook Park post, and the information was forwarded to the prosecutor’s office, Cvetan said.
TEXANS: Houston likely will be without its starting QB for another game.
Brian Hoyer (concussion) hasn’t been cleared to play vs. Tennessee today, according to an NFL.com report Saturday. But he hasn’t been ruled out and was listed as questionable by the team Friday.
If Hoyer can’t go, Brandon Weeden is expected to start after he came into last week’s game and led Houston to a victory.
BRONCOS: Coach Gary Kubiak said QB Brock Osweiler’s eye infection has largely cleared up and that he will be able to start Monday when Denver faces Cincinnati.
COWBOYS: Wide receiver Dez Bryant didn’t make the trip to Buffalo on Saturday, the team announced.
Bryant has been downgraded to out for today’s game, and very well could be done for the season. Bryant has been battling foot/ankle issues all year, and with Dallas out of the playoff mix, it might not make sense to rush the star receiver back to the field.