Peyton Manning was supplied with human growth hormone - a performance-enhancing substance banned by the NFL - a pharmacist has claimed

Peyton Manning has hit back at claims that he was supplied with a human growth hormone - a performance-enhancing substance banned by the NFL.

In a report today, a pharmacist claimed the Denver Broncos quarterback received human growth hormone through his wife during his recovery from neck fusion surgeries in 2011.

In a statement 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.'

On Sunday he further defended himself during an interview with ESPN.

He said: 'I can't speak for any other athlete. I know what I've done, I know how hard I've worked in my 18 years of playing in the NFL.

'There are no shortcuts in the NFL. I've done it the long way, I've done it the hard way. And to insinuate anything otherwise is a complete and total joke, it's defamation and it really ticks me off.'

The star quarterback had the Guyer Institute ship the substance out to his wife, Ashley, so he was not directly linked to the scheme, according to the claims made by a former worker in an undercover investigation by Al Jazeera.

Charles Sly, who used to work at the clinic in Indianapolis, boasted about the center supplying the five-time league MVP with the hormone.

Manning told ESPN he has never taken anything that was ever sent to his wife nor has he ever used performance-enhancing drugs.

'Absolutely not. Absolutely not. And what hurts me the most about this is whoever this guy is, this slapstick trying to insinuate that in 2011, when I more or less had a broken neck - four neck surgeries, I don't know, I'm sure there's a difference in there - but I had a broken neck and I busted my butt to get healthy, put in a lot of hard word. I saw a lot of doctors,' Manning said.

'I went to the Guyer Clinic, they had an hyperbaric chamber that the Colts trainers and doctors thought might be good for me. They went with me and thought it might help. I don't know if it helped. It didn't hurt.

'Time ended up being probably my best medicine along with a lot of hard work. And that stings me whoever this guy is insinuating that I cut corners, I broke NFL rules in order to get healthy. That's a joke. It's a freaking joke,' Manning added.

Charles Sly (left) claimed that 'a bunch of football players' - including Peyton Manning - take performance-enhancing substances

Sly - who was secretly recorded making the allegations - retracted everything he said after learning he had been covertly filmed.

The special investigation shows Sly telling British amateur hurdler Liam Collins he was 'part of a medical team that helped [Manning] recover' from neck surgery.

Sly claims the Guyer Institute mailed human growth hormone to Manning's wife, Ashley, so the then Indianapolis Colts player would not be caught.

'All the time we would be sending Ashley Manning drugs,' Sly boasts. 'Like growth hormone, all the time, everywhere, Florida. And it would never be under Peyton's name, it would always be under her name.

'Him and his wife would come in after hours and get IVs and s***'.

Human growth hormone, along with other performance-enhancing drugs, is banned by the NFL and no one has tested positive for it since it was outlawed in 2011. The league has only been routinely testing players for it since 2014.

The hormone - which can be used to increase muscle and improve athletic performance - is produced naturally in the human body, but this production slows down with age. Some people inject it, along with steroids, to increase athletic performance.

Mrs Manning could have been taking human growth hormone for its supposed anti-ageing properties, but this is not known.

Al Jazeera obtained footage of pharmacist Charles Sly claiming he had supplied banned substances to a string of football and baseball players - the most prominent, Peyton Manning

The star quarterback had the Guyer Institute ship the substance out to his wife, Ashley, so he was not directly linked to the scheme, according to claims made by a former worker in an undercover investigation

Manning's team have come out in support of their player, releasing a statement saying: 'Knowing Peyton Manning and everything he stands for, the Denver Broncos support him 100 per cent. 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.'

The Indianapolis Colts, whom Manning played for from 1998-2011, issued a statement calling the report 'utterly ridiculous'.

'We are thoroughly familiar with Peyton's tireless work habits, his medical history, and, most importantly, his integrity,' the Colts said.

'Peyton played the game in Indianapolis for 14 years the right way. He never took any shortcuts and it would be absurd to suggest he would have taken prohibited performance enhancing drugs.

'We also note that the 'source' of this allegation has since recanted his story. The entire Indianapolis Colts organization and the Irsay family hope this crude effort to besmirch Peyton's reputation will not be permitted to tarnish the legacy of a great Colt.'

Manning is regarded as one of the best players to ever grace the NFL and won the Super Bowl in 2007 with the Indianapolis Colts

Manning's salary is reported to be in the region of $15million a year, and he has also made money advertising Nationwide, Papa John's and DirecTV, among others. Nationwide advert pictured

If the allegations are true, they would tarnish the legendary career of Manning, who is a five-time NFL MVP and whose accolades include winning the Super Bowl with the Colts in 2007 and being the former highest valued player.

At 39, Manning is one of the oldest active players in the NFL.

Manning's salary is reported to be in the region of $15million a year, and he has also made money advertising Nationwide, Papa John's and DirecTV, among others.

WHAT ARE THE MEDICAL USES OF HUMAN GROWTH HORMONE? Human growth hormone (HGH) is naturally produced in the pituitary glands and causes the body to grow. It also helps to regulate muscle, fat and bone growth, among other things. It was first developed for synthetic use in 1985 to treat specific developmental diseases, but is more commonly used by people who want to build muscle. People with HIV/Aids use it to tackle muscle-wasting disease, as well as young children with developmental disorders and babies born prematurely. Natural HGH production slows as people age, and some people believe injecting it can slow the ageing process, however this is not proven. Advertisement

Collins secretly recorded Sly making the claims after telling him he wanted to try and make the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

Al Jazeera alleges that Sly and his associates supplied Collins with performance-enhancing drugs, and that Sly did work at the clinic that treated Manning.

Sly also tells Collins that other footballers take performance-enhancing drugs.

As well as being an athlete, Collins ran a property investment scheme until 2013, when he was banned from directing companies for 14 years.

He was found to have swindled unsuspecting members of the British public in a phantom multi-million pound property scheme.

He and his cousin and business partner David Bone amassed $1,296,000 from investors, who were promised returns as high as 10 percent on their investment in the Collins and Bone property scheme, which purported to make money out of buying and renovating houses to rent to students.

The business partners launched the scheme early in 2009 but investigators looked into the case after they declared bankruptcy in May 2012, with debts amounting to $6.6million each.

Collins is also known for appearing on TV show Britain's Got Talent in 2009, reaching the semi-finals as part of a dance act.

Liam Collins (left), the athlete who secretly filmed the allegations, was banned from directing companies for 14 years after swindling members of the public who invested in his property scheme. He is pictured on Britain's Got Talent in 2009 with Richard Edmonds (right), who was not involved in the scam or the Manning claims

An earlier statement released by Manning's agent did not deny that growth hormones were sent to his wife, saying information about her health is private.

Manning 'has never done what this person is suggesting,' his agent said.

'The treatment he received at the Guyer Institute was provided on the advice of his physician and with the knowledge of team doctors and trainers.

'Any medical treatment received by Ashley is a private matter of hers, her doctor, and her family.'

Sly also mentioned a number of other football and baseball players, saying they too had taken banned substances.

'There's a bunch of football players who take this, and a bunch of baseball players who take it too,' he claims.

He and fellow pharmacist Chad Robertson claim Green Bay Packers stars Mike Neal, 28, and Julius Peppers, 35, were supplied with Delta-2, a steroid-like hormone.

Sly also claims he has supplied Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison, 37, former Miami Dolphins tight end Dustin Keller, 31, Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard, 36, and Washington Nationals infielder Ryan Zimmerman, 31.

He also claims in the recordings to have supplied Mike Tyson with drugs.

Charles Sly (pictured), who used to work at the clinic, boasted about the center supplying the five-time league MVP with the hormone in 2011

The investigation also shows Chicago Cubs catcher Taylor Teagarden apparently admitting taking performance-enhancing drugs in previous seasons.

Harrison's agent told WPXI that the allegations were 'absolutely ridiculous'.

Howard and Zimmerman also denied using the drugs.

The attorney for Phillies slugger Ryan Howard said his client will fight claims made in the Al Jazeera report that his client received performance-enhancing drugs.

William Burck, of the law firm Quinn Emanuel, called the claims made against Howard and Ryan Zimmerman of the Washington Nationals 'outright lies'.

'It's inexcusable and irresponsible that Al Jazeera would provide a platform and broadcast outright lies about Mr Howard and Mr Zimmerman,' Burck said in a statement.

WHO HAS BEEN ACCUSED OF TAKING BANNED SUBSTANCES? Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning: Denies allegations. Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison: Denies allegations. Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard: Denies allegations. Washington Nationals infielder Ryan Zimmerman: Denies allegations. Green Bay Packers linebacker Mike Neal: Yet to comment. Green Bay Packers linebacker Julius Peppers: Yet to comment. Former Miami Dolphins tight end Dustin Keller: Yet to comment. Chicago Cubs catcher Taylor Teagarden: Yet to comment. Former boxer Mike Tyson: Yet to comment. Advertisement

'The extraordinary reckless claims made against our clients in this report are completely false and rely on a source who has already recanted his claims. We will go to court to hold Al Jazeera and other responsible parties accountable for smearing our clients' good names,' Burck said.

Keller, Neal, Peppers, Teagarden and Tyson did not respond to Al Jazeera.

Sly appeared in a video posted online, in which he retracts all of the claims in the Al Jazeera investigation.

He said: 'The statements that Al Jazeera plans to air are absolutely false and incorrect.

'I am recanting any such statements and there is no truth to any statement of mine that Al Jazeera plans to air.'

Robertson did not comment.

Manning said he was disgusted he had to take time off from his throwing session inside the Broncos' field house to address this story.

'I plan to go throw today a little bit harder. My ball has a little extra heat on it today. I've got some built-up anger as you might understand,' Manning said.

Manning said he has had a good week of work without the soreness that developed in his injured foot last week and hopes to return to practice next week. As for when he might play again, he said that he'll do whatever coach Gary Kubiak thinks is best.

'If they need me to play and be in there, then I'll be ready,' Manning said. 'But if they don't feel that's the best for the team, then I'll respect that decision and do what I can to help the team.'

Dr Dale Guyer from the Guyer Institute told Daily Mail Online the allegations were 'completely fabricated'.

'I have no reason to believe these allegations are based in fact or have any truth,' he said.

'In fact, I can say with absolute certainty they are not. I find it extremely disturbing that the source of Al Jazeera's story, a former unpaid intern named Charles Sly, would violate the privacy of Mrs Manning's medical records and be so callous and destructive as to purposely fabricate and spread stories that are simply not true.

'I would emphasize that Mr Sly was never an employee of the Guyer Institute and his brief three-month internship occurred in 2013 during which time Peyton was not even being treated or present in the office.

'I think it is obvious that Mr Sly has fabricated this whole thing for reasons I cannot fathom.