[Lefty Noob]

Well, the feel good Rick Ankiel comeback story might not be so feel good after all.

According to the Associated Press, "Comeback kid Rick Ankiel of the St. Louis Cardinals received a year's supply of human growth hormone in 2004, the Daily News reported Friday... The pitcher-turned-outfielder is the latest athlete to be linked to the Florida pharmacy at the center of an investigation by the Albany County (N.Y.) district attorney's office into the illegal Internet distribution of performance-enhancing drugs." The report goes on to say that Ankiel received 8 HGH shipments in 2004.

It is worth noting that MLB did not ban HGH until 2005, so technically Ankiel might not have broken any rules.

Report: Cardinals comeback kid Rick Ankiel received human growth hormone in 2004 - MLB - Yahoo! Sports

[EmpireWF]

The NY Daily News reports Ankiel received a 12-month supply of HGH from the Signature Pharmacy in 2004.

MLB did not officially ban HGH until 2005. If Ankiel possessed or used the drug after that, he could be suspended. But there's no way for MLB to know unless Ankiel confesses.

Ankiel is just another name of a professional athlete linked to the now defunct Signature Pharmacy, an internet company that dispensed drugs (which is illegal). Ankiel joins several pro wrestlers and a player and coach in the NFL.

[bears9]

I think this Ankiel story was overrated in the first place it was not bigger which some of you said it was but know Ankiel looks like the biggest cheater in sports

[EmpireWF]

Originally Posted by bears9

I think this Ankiel story was overrated in the first place it was not bigger which some of you said it was but know Ankiel looks like the biggest cheater in sports

In his defense, he's hardly the biggest cheater. He allegedly used the HGH to recover from injuries three years ago. It's not as if he shot up back in February. The Ankiel story is interesting because it's a guy who went from having his career end to making the big leagues as a hitter.

Anti-Ankiel...he's just like all the others who we know have used an extra edge to help them in some way. For better or for worse, their is a reason why MLB has a steroid era.

Ankiel got the stuff off the internet which is not the brightest thing to do and well, he's paying for it now.

[bears9]

Originally Posted by EmpireWF

In his defense, he's hardly the biggest cheater. He allegedly used the HGH to recover from injuries three years ago. It's not as if he shot up back in February. The Ankiel story is interesting because it's a guy who went from having his career end to making the big leagues as a hitter.

Anti-Ankiel...he's just like all the others who we know have used an extra edge to help them in some way. For better or for worse, their is a reason why MLB has a steroid era.

Ankiel got the stuff off the internet which is not the brightest thing to do and well, he's paying for it now.

I am not saying he is I am just saying from an outside perspective that what it looks like

[Lefty Noob]

Ankiel is insisting that his HGH had been legitimately prescribed.

According to the Associated Press, "Rick Ankiel says any drugs he received in 2004 were prescribed by a licensed physician to help him recover from reconstructive elbow surgery... Ankiel, whose comeback is one of the great stories of this season, initially acknowledged human growth hormone was among those medications during a brief session with reporters Friday, then refused to list his various prescriptions."

Cardinals' Rick Ankiel says everything he took in 2004 was prescribed by licensed physician - MLB - Yahoo! Sports

[bears9]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

Ankiel is insisting that his HGH had been legitimately prescribed.



Cardinals' Rick Ankiel says everything he took in 2004 was prescribed by licensed physician - MLB - Yahoo! Sports

Ya and Palmaro said he did not use steriods going from a power picher to power hitter is not normal now that i think about it

[EmpireWF]

Well someone made an err here because the drugs reportedly came from an internet pharmacy which is illegal (now). Something's fishy, if not Ankiel then his physician.

[vincesanity82]

still makes you question his pop of the bat this year..

[legend]

The drugs were supposedly prescribed by a doctor who has been in hot water repeatedly with the Florida Medical Board. If he used them to recover from the injury under a doctor's care, that's one thing, but if he sought out some half-baked pill pusher just to obtain it, that's another. The story is sure to unfold.