Reports: MLB expected to summon Matthews, questions Ankiel

Sep 13, 2007 - 2:03 PM By PA SportsTicker

Major League Baseball reportedly wants to speak to Gary Matthews Jr. regarding claims that he received a shipment of human growth hormone - seven months after the allegations were made against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim outfielder.

The Los Angeles Times reported Thursday on its web site that MLB officials are expected to summon Matthews in the coming days.

In a separate report Thursday, the New York Daily News reported that St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Rick Ankiel was questioned by baseball officials on Tuesday about allegations that he also received a shipment of HGH.

The allegations against Matthews and Ankiel both relate to the ongoing investigation into internet drug trafficking which is being conducted by Albany County District Attorney David Soares.

Reports have also suggested that Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Troy Glaus and Baltimore Orioles outfielder Jay Gibbons received shipments of steroids and HGH via the Signature Pharmacy in Orlando, Florida.

Matthews declined to comment in the L.A. Times story, with his agent Scott Levanthal saying no meeting has yet been requested. He would not say how Matthews would respond to such a request.

"We'll address that at the time," Levanthal told the newspaper.

The allegations against Matthews were first reported February 28 on SI.com. The web site stated that in 2004, Matthews received a shipment of genotropin, a human growth hormone and the same brand which the New York Daily News reports Ankiel also received that year.

The substance was not banned by MLB until 2005, and it is legal to use the substance with a prescription.

On March 14, Matthews issued a statement denying using HGH.