St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Rick Ankiel, baseball’s feel-good story of the season, received a 12-month supply of human growth hormone from a Florida pharmacy that was part of a national illegal prescription drug-distribution operation, the New York Daily News has learned.
Ankiel, who flamed out mentally and physically as a pitcher earlier this decade, only to return to the majors as a slugging outfielder last month, has evoked comparisons this season to Roy Hobbs and Babe Ruth. He hit two home runs, a double and had seven RBIs on Thursday in the Cardinals’ 14-4 win over the Pirates at Busch Stadium, giving him nine home runs in 81 at-bats since his remarkable major league comeback began Aug. 10.
According to records obtained by The Daily 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, N.Y., District Attorney David Soares’ two-year investigation into illegal Internet prescription drug sales, which has brought 22 indictments and nine convictions.
Ankiel’s prescriptions were signed by Florida physician William Gogan, who provided them through a Palm Beach Gardens clinic called “The Health and Rejuvenation Center,” or “THARC.” The drugs were shipped to Ankiel at the clinic’s address.
Ankiel, 28, who lives in nearby Jupiter, Fla., has not been accused by authorities of wrongdoing, and according to the Signature records obtained by The News, he stopped receiving HGH just before Major League Baseball officially banned it in 2005. MLB does not test for HGH, but a player who is known to have used it or even possessed it from the time it was banned can face a 50-game suspension.
His agent, Scott Boras, would not comment on Thursday.
“This is the first I’ve heard of this,” Cardinals GM Walt Jocketty told The News on Thursday. “If it’s true, obviously it would be very tragic, along with everything else we’ve had happen to us this year.”
The surging Cardinals have gone 16-6 in their last 22 games to become a contender for the National League Central title. The year began with manager Tony La Russa’s DWI arrest in March, followed by the drunk-driving death of reliever Josh Hancock in April.
MLB officials also declined comment, saying they would “look into” the allegations, but weren’t sure whether any action could be taken. It is likely, however, that officials will ask to speak to Ankiel and will ask whether he used HGH beyond the time he received the shipments.
THARC was not one of the anti-aging clinics busted by Albany, but Signature’s owners are under indictment. Prosecutors have said clinics similar to as THARC paid physicians to sign prescriptions for clients they never saw — a violation of New York and Florida law — which were then filled at Signature and other pharmacies and shipped to clients.
Most recently, Patriots safety Rodney Harrison and ex-Bears and current Cowboys coach Wade Wilson were linked in the investigation. Both have been punished by the NFL.