Matthews breaks silence on link to steroids probe, By: Josh Dubow
Angels outfileder says he has never taken HGH
March 15, 2007
TEMPE, Ariz. — Gary Matthews Jr. ended more than two weeks of silence on Wednesday after being linked to a steroids investigation, denying for the first time that he took human growth hormone.
Matthews allegedly was sent HGH in 2004 from a pharmacy that's part of a widespread steroid investigation. Los Angeles Angels owner Arte Moreno and commissioner Bud Selig had been pushing Matthews to address the issue, and he finally did 16 days after the first stories came out.
"I have never taken HGH — during the 2004 season or any other time," Matthews said in a statement. "Nobody has accused me of doing so, and no law enforcement authority has said I am a target of any investigation for doing so."
Moreno, general manager Bill Stoneman and manager Mike Scioscia all said they were pleased Matthews finally addressed the issue and that he denied using HGH.
"As an organization, we felt it was important for Gary to address the media regarding his situation," Moreno said in a statement. "Today he honored that request and issued his own statement. Now, it's time for us to continue our preparation and focus on the season ahead."
Scioscia said he senses Matthews was relieved after issuing the statement through the team Wednesday morning. Matthews then went out and homered in the Angels' 4-3 exhibition victory over the San Francisco Giants.
Scioscia said he hopes the statement will help the team focus on baseball.
"There's been a little anxiety in our organization just waiting for this thing to move forward and hopefully move forward toward being resolved," Scioscia said. "This is a huge step there. That's encouraging."
HGH was not banned by baseball for players with major league contracts until 2005. This investigation appears to be targeting the suppliers of the substances, not those who might have received anything from the suppliers.
Stoneman said the team had no plans to discipline Matthews. He said it was up to the commissioner's office to determine whether Matthews violated baseball's drug policy.
Selig said it would be inappropriate to comment while his office is investigating the case.
Matthews explained the delay in his denial by saying he and his representatives needed to determine how he got linked to the story.
"Before saying anything publicly I wanted to make absolutely sure of my ground," he said. "In particular, I needed to try to learn whether anybody in authority — in or out of baseball — felt they had reason to accuse me of anything with regard to HGH. If they did, I would have to deal with that. It has taken me, and those representing me, 16 days to make certain that's not the case. And that is why it has taken longer than I would have preferred to make a public statement."
Matthews declined to elaborate on his statement.
The Times Union of Albany, N.Y., reported Matthews was listed as a customer of Applied Pharmacy Services in Mobile, Ala., which is under investigation for allegedly being part of a national steroids distribution network.
The 32-year-old Matthews, a longtime major league journeyman who had an All-Star season with the Rangers last year, agreed to a $50 million, five-year contract with the Angels in November. A career .263 hitter, he set bests last season with a .313 average, 19 homers and 79 RBIs.
Elsewhere, the prosecutor in Albany, N.Y., who is conducting a nationwide probe in the case, plans to forward the names of athletes linked to the inquiry to pro sports leagues.
"We're going to be sending information to vet those names, see if they are who they say they are," Albany County District Attorney David Soares first told the New York Daily News in Wednesday's editions.
Albany authorities declined to disclose Wednesday how many athletes have come up in the probe and which sports leagues will get letters. So far, 20 people have been indicted, and several Florida clinics were raided.
Other athletes linked to the scandal, in various reports, are Jose Canseco, John Rocker, Jerry Hairston Jr., David Bell and Darren Holmes, former heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield, Pittsburgh Steelers doctor Richard Rydze, 1996 Olympic wrestling gold medalist Kurt Angle and bodybuilder Victor Martinez.
NFL and baseball officials went to Albany last week to meet with Soares and other investigators.
"We have asked the DA's office for any information that is relevant to the NFL within the constraints of the investigation," NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said.
Baseball spokesman Rich Levin said the league has not been contacted yet. "All we know is what we read in the paper," he said.
