Denver Broncos

Peyton sounds off again: Broncos QB 'sick, disgusted' by HGH report

Published Dec. 27, 2015 12:18 p.m. ET

James Parziale

A frustrated Peyton Manning appeared in a television interview Sunday morning to refute allegations he used HGH in 2011.

"It's a joke that I cut corners to get healthy. It's a freaking joke," a clearly exasperated Manning told ESPN. Manning had already released a statement Saturday night refuting the Al Jazeera report.

The report claims Manning received HGH from an Indianapolis anti-aging clinic in 2011 while he was still with the Colts. The drug, which was banned by the NFL in the 2011 collective bargaining agreement, reportedly was delivered to his wife, Ashley, so that the quarterback's name was never attached to the shipments.

“It makes me sick that it brings Ashley into it, her medical history being violated,” Manning said. “Any medical treatment that my wife received, that’s her business.”

Liam Collins, a British hurdler, went undercover and spoke with Charlie Sly, an Austin, Texas-based pharmacist who worked at the Guyer Institute, the Indiana-based anti-aging clinic in 2011. Sly allegedly names Manning and other high profile athletes as having received HGH from the clinic.

Manning said everything he did at the Guyer Clinic in Indianapolis was sanctioned by the Colts, whose officials accompanied him, he said.

"I don't know this guy. I have never heard of this guy until this report," Manning said. "I'd love to understand why this guy is saying it and why he's making it up."

Manning mentioned that he did use a hyperbaric chamber as part of his treatments.

"Everything was under Colts authorization," Manning continued. "I can't speak for any other athlete."

How did he feel when he heard the report?

"Sick. Disgusted. Makes me want to... can't say it on TV," Manning said. "I'm moving on. I'm not losing any sleep over this report over this slapsticks likes."

The allegations surfaced in an Al Jazeera undercover probe into doping in global sports that is set to air Sunday and was shared in advance with the Huffington Post.

However, Sly has already backtracked in a subsequent statement to Al Jazeera, saying Collins secretly recorded his conversations without his knowledge or consent.

"The statements on any recordings or communications that Al Jazeera plans to air are absolutely false and incorrect," Sly said. "To be clear, I am recanting any such statements and there is no truth to any statement of mine that Al Jazeera plans to air. Under no circumstances should any of those recordings, statements or communications be aired."