Peyton Manning calls report of HGH shipments 'totally made up'

Lindsay H. Jones | USA TODAY Sports

Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning issued a statement Saturday night calling a report from Al-Jazeera that links him to a doping ring “garbage” and said it is “totally made up.”

The report was previewed by the Huffington Post, which published a story Saturday night detailing Al-Jazeera's work. The original report is scheduled to be available Sunday.

The report alleges that Manning in 2011 received human growth hormone shipped under his wife’s name. Manning missed the 2011 season while recovering from a series of neck surgeries.

He signed with the Denver Broncos in 2012 and won the NFL’s MVP award in 2013.

"The allegation that I would do something like that is complete garbage and is totally made up. It never happened. Never. I really can’t believe somebody would put something like this on the air. Whoever said this is making stuff up,” Manning said in a personal statement that was released through the Broncos.

The report connected Manning with a Texas pharmacist, Charlie Sly, who was linked to an anti-aging clinic in Indiana, and contains an undercover video of Sly telling a British hurdler of his alleged dealings with Manning. It also includes subsequent video of Sly recanting his statements about Manning.

In an interview with ESPN on Sunday morning, an angry Manning said he was “furious” and “disgusted” by the report.

Asked by reporter Lisa Salters if he had ever used HGH, Manning twice said “absolutely not.”

Manning said he did visit the Guyer Institute in Indianapolis, under the supervision of doctors from the Colts, to use a hyperbaric chamber and receive nutrients intravenously.

“It stings me that this insinuates I cut corners,” Manning said. “There are no shortcuts in the NFL. I’ve done it the long way, the hard way. It's defamation, and it ticks me off.”

Manning said it “makes him sick” that his wife, Ashley, was mentioned in the story. He did not deny that she received medication from the clinic.

“It makes me sick that it brings Ashley into it, her medical history, her medical privacy being violated,” Manning said.

The Broncos issued a statement Sunday morning in support of Manning.

“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," the statement read. “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 league outlawed HGH in the collective bargaining agreement in 2011, but the NFL and NFL Players Association could not agree on testing protocols until 2014. No players have tested positive.

Manning has been sidelined for six weeks while dealing with a foot injury. He will not play in the Broncos’ game on Monday night against the Cincinnati Bengals, but the team has declined to address his status beyond this week.

At 39, and after dealing with foot, shoulder and rib injuries this year, Manning’s future beyond this season is in doubt. He is one regular-season win shy of breaking Brett Favre’s record for most wins by a starting quarterback.

The Al-Jazeera report also named Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard and Washington Nationals infielder Ryan Zimmerman as players who received the drug from Sly.

William Burck, an attorney who represents both Howard and Zimmerman, issued the following statement on Sunday morning:

"It’s inexcusable and irresponsible that Al Jazeera would provide a platform and broadcast outright lies about Mr. Howard and Mr. Zimmerman. The extraordinarily reckless claims made against our clients in this report are completely false and rely on a source who has already recanted his claims."