Peyton Manning & Others Linked to Doping Ring

Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning has been linked to a doping ring in a report by Al Jazeera, released to The Huffington Post.

The report, titled “The Dark Side,” follows British hurdler Liam Collins, an undercover investigator who connects with Charlie Sly, a pharmacist who worked at the Indiana-based anti-aging clinic Guyer Institute in 2011.

In a secret video, Sly told Collins he was “part of a medical team that helped [Manning] recover” from the neck surgery that forced Manning to miss the entire 2011 season.

Sly said the clinic mailed growth hormone and other drugs to Manning’s wife, Ashley, to avoid linking Peyton's name to shipments.

Human Growth Hormones were banned by the NFL in 2011 as part of the league's collective bargaining agreement with players. The NFL did not start testing until 2014.

All the time we would be sending Ashley Manning drugs,” Sly says in the video. “Like growth hormone, all the time, everywhere, Florida. And it would never be under Peyton’s name, it would always be under her name.”

Sly also said both Mannings came to the clinic after hours for intravenous treatments.

Manning’s agent denied the allegations to Al Jazeera, according to The Huffington Post.

“Any medical treatment received by Ashley is a private matter of hers, her doctor, and her family,” the agent said.

Sly also said he provided the performance-enhancing drug Delta-2 to NFL players Mike Neal, Julius Peppers and James Harrison. Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard, Washington Nationals infielder Ryan Zimmerman and boxer Mike Tyson were also named.

Harrison, Zimmerman and Howard denied the allegations, while Peppers, Matthews and Tyson did not comment.

The report is set to air Sunday.

Manning's response article:

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.

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.