A man alleged to have provided human growth hormones (HGH) to NFL star Peyton Manning in 2011 has recanted his statements in a video recording.
The Denver Broncos QB Peyton Manning. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
A report aired on Monday shows Charlie Sly telling an undercover reporter that he supplied HGH to Manning, who was recovering from a neck injury, while working at an Indianapolis anti-aging clinic.
But in a nearly minute-long YouTube statement given before the broadcast, Sly said the Al-Jazeera network recorded him without his knowledge or consent.
"The statements on any recordings or communications that Al-Jazeera plans to air are absolutely false and incorrect," Sly said.
"To be clear, I am recanting any such statements and there is no truth to any statement of mine that Al-Jazeera plans to air."
The NFL declined to comment on the report but the Denver Broncos issued a statement on behalf of their 39-year-old quarterback who dismissed the claims.
"The allegation that I would do something like that is complete garbage and is totally made up," Manning said in the statement.
"It never happened. Never. I really can't believe somebody would put something like this on the air."
Manning, who was with the Indianapolis Colts at the time, did not play in 2011 because of the series of neck surgeries.
The NFL collective bargaining agreement, ratified in 2011, banned HGH but players weren't tested for the banned substance until 2014. No NFL player has tested positive for HGH.
- Reuters
