Major League Baseball players Ryan Zimmerman and Ryan Howard have been named in a report by Al Jazeera alleging that a number professional athletes were supplied performance enhancing drugs. According to the report, the MLB players along with Peyton Manning were given human growth hormone from an anti-aging clinic in Indianapolis.
The report named Manning along with Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard, Washington Nationals infielder Ryan Zimmerman and free-agent catcher Taylor Teagarden as players who received supplies from the clinic. Manning denied the claims strongly to ESPN in an interview that aired on Sunday, while SI.com reports that an attorney for Zimmerman and Howard also deny the claims.
"It's inexcusable and irresponsible that Al Jazeera would provide a platform and broadcast outright lies about Mr. Howard and Mr. Zimmerman," Howard and Zimmerman's attorney William Burck said, according to Action 6 News in Philadelphia.
The undercover investigation from Al Jazeera reports on allegations that both Zimmerman and Howard bought and used a hormone supplement from an anti-aging clinic in Indianapolis, the Guyer Institute. The main source in the story, Charlie Sly, has reportedly recanted his accusations in an interview with Chris Mortensen at ESPN. The report says that Manning used the drugs while recovering from neck surgery in 2011.
Both Howard and Zimmerman dealt with serious injuries around the same time, with Howard suffering a torn Achilles and Zimmerman suffering wrist and shoulder issues. According to Jon Morosi at Fox Sports, the MLB is looking into the allegations and the league will " conduct a thorough investigation" regarding the accusations from the report.