If you went to bed early Saturday night, you probably missed a potentially major story involving one of the best NFL quarterbacks of all time.
Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning was linked to performance-enhancing drugs, HGH specifically, in an Al Jazeera documentary titled “The Dark Side,” which is set to air Sunday night.
However, the pharmacist involved in the report, Charlie Sly, recanted his story, per ESPN. The Al Jazeera story alleges Sly provided Manning with HGH and sent it to him using the quarterback’s wife’s name on the shipping label.
“When I realized Al Jazeera was using a secret taping and (reporter Liam) Collins as a so-called investigative reporter, I was baffled,” Sly told ESPN. “I cannot believe that can happen. That’s why I recanted the story. It wasn’t true, and I was trying to pull one over on Collins to see if he had any idea of what he was talking about.”
This development has further challenged the legitimacy of this already-strange report.
Manning released a statement denying the allegations, saying the report is “complete garbage.”
The 37-year-old quarterback missed the entire 2011 season because of injuries, including multiple surgeries. The Al Jazeera report claims Manning was given HGH during his rehab from those surgeries.
Manning returned to game action in 2012, signed with the Denver Broncos and played at a high level in his first three seasons with the AFC West club.
However, injury and poor play this season resulted in him being benched in favor of backup Brock Osweiler in Week 12 against the Kansas City Chiefs. Manning reportedly will not play Monday night when the Broncos take on the Cincinnati Bengals in a pivotal game in the AFC playoff picture.
Thumbnail photo via Ron Chenoy/USA TODAY Sports Images
