Report: Cardinals' Ankiel bought year's supply of HGH

Sep 7, 2007 - 7:30 AM NEW YORK (Ticker) - So much for Rick Ankiel evoking comparisons to "The Natural."

The Daily News reported early Friday that the St. Louis Cardinals' pitcher-turned-outfielder received a 12-month supply of human growth hormone in 2004 from a Florida pharmacy that was part of a national illegal prescription drug-distribution operation.

The story comes just hours after Ankiel belted a pair of home runs and drove in seven runs in the Cardinals' 16-4 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The 28-year-old Ankiel, who also hit a two-run homer Wednesday, is batting .358 (29-for-81) with nine home runs and 29 RBI in 23 games since returning to the majors on August 9.

It has been a remarkable turnaround for a player who gained notoriety for throwing nine wild pitches in four innings during the 2000 playoffs - an outing that essentially led to the demise of his pitching career.

The startling rebirth of Ankiel's career has drawn comparisons to Babe Ruth and Roy Hobbs, but the feel-good story of the year may be coming to a crashing halt.

According to records obtained by The Daily News, which cited sources close to the controversy surrounding anti-aging clinics that dispense illegal prescription drugs, Ankiel received eight shipments of HGH from Signature Pharmacy in Orlando from January to December 2004.

Signature is the pharmacy at the center of a two-year investigation of illegal Internet prescription drug sales by Albany District Attorney David Soares.

That same probe ensnared New England Patriots strong safety Rodney Harrison, who last week admitted to using human growth hormones and was suspended four games by the NFL.

The Boston Globe reported that Harrison bought the HGH from the Palm Beach Rejuvenation Center.

According to The Daily News, Ankiel's prescriptions were signed by a Florida physician who provided them through a Palm Beach Gardens clinic called "The Health and Rejuvenation Center," or "THARC."

Ankiel lives in nearby Jupiter, Florida.

THARC also provided a shipment of steroids and growth hormone to former major league pitcher Steve Woodard, who was a teammate of Ankiel at Class AAA Memphis in 2004. Woodard played for four major league teams in seven years.

Scott Boras, the agent for Ankiel, would not comment to The Daily News on Thursday. Woodard did not return messages left on his cell phone.

"This is the first I've heard of this," Cardinals General Manager Walt Jocketty told The Daily News Thursday. "If it's true, obviously it would be very tragic, along with everything else we've had happen to us this year."

An elbow sprain fored Ankiel to miss the 2002 season, and he underwent "Tommy John" surgery in July 2003.

The lefthander returned to the Cardinals as a reliever in 2004, but pitched in only five games. He ended his pitching career and switched to the outfield in 2005, but he injured his knee before the 2006 season, underwent knee surgery and missed the entire year.