Peyton Manning has strongly denied a report that claims he used illegal performance-enhancing drugs in 2011 when he was recovering from neck surgery, and we may now be getting a better idea of where the allegations stemmed from.
According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Manning has retained the services of crisis management specialist Ari Fleischer to help deal with the bombshell report. Fleischer told Rapoport that Manning has never failed an NFL-issued drug test or used human growth hormone. He did say, however, that Manning’s wife Ashley was a patient at the anti-aging clinic in question.
Manning spokesman did say Peyton's wife was a patient at this anti-aging clinic in question. She had a prescription, wouldn't say for what
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 27, 2015
That piece of information is significant, as the report from Al Jazeera claims Manning received shipments of HGH to his home in his wife Ashley’s name. A Texas-based pharmacist who spoke to Al Jazeera said Manning and his wife visited the Indianapolis anti-aging clinic after normal business hours for IV treatments.
Manning’s agent has already spoken out against the allegations, and Peyton later doubled down with some very strong comments of his own. You can read what Manning had to say about the report here.
Fleischer said the HGH allegations will not affect Manning’s current playing status.
