Rick Ankiel’s comeback from multiple elbow injuries has certainly been awe-inspiring. The former pitcher-turned-outfield has amassed a .358 average this year, with nine long balls, 29 RBI and 22 runs. He even hit two home runs, a double and had seven RBI in a Cardinal win over the Pirates recently. But unfortunately the fairytale ride is probably going to have an unhappy ending as word has leaked that Ankiel received a 12-month shipment of HGH in 2004.
According to records obtained by The News and sources close to the controversy surrounding anti-aging clinics that dispense illegal prescription drugs, Ankiel received eight shipments of HGH from Signature Pharmacy in Orlando from January to December 2004, including the brand-name injectable drugs Saizen and Genotropin. Signature is the pharmacy at the forefront of Albany District Attorney David Soares’ two-year investigation into illegal Internet prescription drug sales, which has brought 22 indictments and nine convictions.
This report may eventually turn out false, but it’s disturbing that a guy who has arguably had one of the greatest individual comebacks in sports history could have been cheating. You almost have to feel for him with the way he was so physically and mentally checked out after his elbow injuries, but then again, does anyone feel bad for Barry Bonds, Jason Giambi or Rafael Palmeiro? More details are surely to follow and if the truth does come out about him using HGH, then this guy needs to burn at the stakes just like all the others.
