Al Jazeera is watching what it says now that Peyton Manning suggested he might sue the network for defamation.
Reporter Deborah Davies, who was mostly responsible for the report linking the Denver Broncos quarterback to HGH, appeared on NBC’s “Today” on Tuesday and said the broadcaster never actually made any allegations about Manning.
“We have not said that in the program,” Davies said, per ProFootballTalk. “The only allegation in the program from Charlie Sly is that growth hormone was sent repeatedly from the Guyer (Institute) to Ashley Manning in Florida. We’re not making the allegation against Peyton Manning.”
Al Jazeera’s situation became complicated when Sly, who was an intern for the Indianapolis-based Guyer Institute, told ESPN he lied about what he said on camera. Davies bashed Sly before Tuesday’s appearance, saying the network told Sly what would be in its documentary three weeks before his public denial, but it’s clear Al Jazeera still wants to cover all its tracks if Manning does actually sue.
Davies reiterated the network’s stance elsewhere in the “Today” interview, too.
“Let’s make it clear what the allegation is,” Davies said. “The allegation in the program is very simple, that when Charlie Sly worked in the Guyer (Institute) doing part of his training … the clinic was sending out not one shipment but repeated shipments of growth hormone to Ashley Manning in Florida. That’s it.”
Thumbnail photo via Ron Chenoy/USA TODAY Sports Images
