Peyton Manning was accused of using human growth hormone in a bombshell report roughly five months ago, and we have heard very little about the allegations since his retirement. Manning was initially so furious that he openly threatened a lawsuit, but it appears he has changed his mind.
Christine Brennan of USA Today Sports reported this week that Manning is not going to sue Al Jazeera, which aired the report featuring a former anti-aging clinic intern accusing Manning of using HGH. After speaking with attorneys, Manning has decided he does not want to spend the time and money needed for a lawsuit, nor does he want his and his wife’s private health records being made public.
Charlie Sly, a former intern at the Guyer Institute in Indianapolis, claimed Manning’s wife Ashley received shipments of HGH that were intended for Peyton when he was recovering from neck surgery.
Brennan also notes that Manning is waiting to see how the lawsuits filed by MLB players Ryan Zimmerman and Ryan Howard, who were also named in the Al Jazeera report, turn out. If those cases are dismissed, Manning will know he made the right call.
Manning was so angry after the Al Jazeera report surfaced that he almost looked like he was on the verge of tears. You can see one of his first interviews from after the allegations were made here. But even if he is innocent and is still furious, the buzz surrounding the report has all but disappeared. Calling more attention to it by filing a lawsuit that could end up getting dismissed would be counterproductive at this point.
