INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Peyton Manning, his past and present teams and the Guyer Institute are vehemently denying allegations that the star quarterback received human growth hormone while recovering from surgeries in 2011.
The allegations stem from an Al Jazeera report set to air Sunday.
The man at the center of the allegations, Charlie Sly, has told ESPN he recanted his allegations.
8News sister station WISH-TV’s analysts on Countdown To Kickoff discussed the subject on Sunday morning’s show.
“Guys seem to try to release stories or fabricate things potentially to make a name for themselves,” said former NFL linebacker Rosevelt Colvin. “It’s bothering or disturbing just because you don’t know if it’s true or not true.”
Former Colt Bill Brooks spoke about Sly recanting his story.
“If it’s not true, why say it anyway?” asked Brooks. “This is not just about Peyton Manning and his football career and his football legacy and things of that nature. This involves his wife. This is getting to his family. This is something that is very serious.”
WISH-TV Colts Insider Mike Wells sees Manning’s reaction as indicative that the allegations are false.
“I think Peyton knows it’s not true,” Wells said. “I don’t think you have to worry about Peyton’s legacy.”
Dr. Dale Guyer with the Guyer Institute says Sly was an unpaid intern in 2013 when Manning was not a patient.
I have no reason to believe these allegations are based in fact or have any truth. In fact, I can say with absolute certainty they are not. I find it extremely disturbing that the source of Al Jazeera’s story, a former unpaid intern named Charles Sly, would violate the privacy of Mrs. Manning’s medical records and be so callous and destructive as to purposely fabricate and spread stories that are simply not true. I would emphasize that Mr. Sly was never an employee of the Guyer Institute and his brief three-month internship occurred in 2013 during which time Peyton was not even being treated or present in the office. I think it is obvious that Mr. Sly has fabricated this whole thing for reasons I cannot fathom. I am proud to have treated Peyton and helped him through his rehabilitation. Mr. Manning is one of the most honorable and upstanding individuals I have had the pleasure of knowing.
In a statement, the Indianapolis Colts called the report ridiculous:
We’ve been made aware of the recent Al Jazeera report concerning Peyton Manning and find it utterly ridiculous. We are thoroughly familiar with Peyton’s tireless work habits, his medical history, and, most importantly, his integrity. Peyton played the game in Indianapolis for 14 years the right way. He never took any shortcuts and it would be absurd to suggest he would have taken prohibited performance enhancing drugs. We also note that the “source” of this allegation has since recanted his story. The entire Indianapolis Colts organization and the Irsay family hope this crude effort to besmirch Peyton’s reputation will not be permitted to tarnish the legacy of a great Colt.
On Sunday morning, the Denver Broncos released this statement on the situation:
Knowing Peyton Manning and everything he stands for, the Denver Broncos support him 100 percent. These are false claims made to Al Jazeera, and we don’t believe the report.
Peyton is rightfully outraged by the allegations, which he emphatically denied to our organization and which have been publicly renounced by the source who initially provided them.
Throughout his NFL career, particularly during his four seasons with the Broncos, Peyton has shown nothing but respect for the game. Our organization is confident Peyton does things the right way, and we do not find this story to be credible.”
Manning himself spoke to the story on Saturday night, releasing this statement:
The allegation that I would do something like that is complete garbage and is totally made up. It never happened. Never.”
Sly’s original claim was that he gave athletes out of the Indianapolis-based Guyer Institute in 2011.
Manning’s former coach, Tony Dungy, also gave his take on this situation.
