Ankiel denies wrongdoing amid HGH allegations

Sep 8, 2007 - 7:36 AM By Bob Huhn PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

PHOENIX (Ticker) - St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Rick Ankiel addressed the media before Friday's game against the Arizona Diamondbacks and denied any wrongdoing in his alleged involvement with human growth hormones.

According to a story in Friday's Daily News, Ankiel 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.

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

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. Two of the drugs specified in the report were Saizen and Genotropin, which are injectable drugs.

The 28-year old Ankiel, who lives in nearby Jupiter, Florida, defended himself Friday night, saying the only medication he took were what doctors prescribed while he was trying to recover from "Tommy John" surgery in 2004.

"I have heard of the center, I don't know anything about the pharmacy and I don't know anyone there," Ankiel said. "I've never purchased or ordered anything from that pharmacy, but all the medication I have received in my career has always been under doctor's care, a licensed physician.

"I am not going to go into the list of what my doctor prescribed for me. I have been through a lot emotionally and physically. There are doctor-patient privileges and I hope you guys respect that.

Ankiel, who is one of the feel-good stories of the season, has hit nine home runs since being called up to the Cardinals August 9.

The story broke just hours after Ankiel, a former pitcher-turned-slugger, had belted a pair of home runs and drove in seven runs in the Cardinals' 16-4 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday.

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.

Cardinals General Manager Walt Jocketty was with Ankiel during the news conference and supported his player.

"Everything was legal," Jocketty said. "There was no violation of major league rules. There was no violation of any laws. At this point, if there's anything more to decide, Major League Baseball will look at it and let us know."

MLB has asked to speak to both Ankiel and Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Troy Glaus, who was alleged to have received multiple shipments of performance-enhancing steroids through an allegedly illegal distribution network in a report Friday on Sports Illustrated's web site.

Ankiel said he will have no problem cooperating with league officials.

"I will be happy to help and conduct anything Major League Baseball wants to talk about," Ankiel said. "I am disappointed. I don't want it to become more of a distraction more than it has already become we are in the middle of a pennant race and we have to go out there and concentrate."

A hard-throwing lefthander when he first reach the the major leagues in 1999, Ankiel compiled a record of 13-10 with an ERA of 4.58 in 51 games, but a serious of injuries and wildness ended his pitching career in 2004.

Ankiel gained notoriety for throwing nine wild pitches in four innings during the 2000 playoffs - an outing that started the demise of his pitching career.

An elbow sprain forced Ankiel to miss the 2002 season, and in 2003 he underwent the elbow ligament replacement surgery, named for former pitcher Tommy John.

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.