Less than two weeks before Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning plays in his fourth Super Bowl, the NFL is still looking into the claims made by Al Jazeera that he had human growth hormones sent to his home.
The Associated Press noted that NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said the league has been investigating the claims for weeks and that it “involves reviews of records, interviews and coordination with other agencies."
The comprehensive investigation was prompted by an Al Jazeera report that Manning had HGH delivered to his house under his wife’s name in 2011. The quarterback called the report complete garbage” and said that it “is totally made up.”
In addition to Manning, the report named Green Bay Packers linebackers Clay Matthews and Mike Neal, Packers defensive end Julius Peppers and Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison as all being supplied substances that are banned in the NFL. Doping allegations were also made against MLB players Ryan Howard and Ryan Zimmerman, who threatened to sue the publication for defamation. Al Jazeera’s source, a pharmacist named Charlie Sly, had since recanted.
The NFL’s investigation is not expected to conclude until after the Super Bowl on Feb. 7, a Super Bowl in which many speculate will be the last game Manning plays in cementing his Hall of Fame career.