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Ryan Howard Files Defamation Suit Against Al Jazeera
By Jim Adair
Published:
Though the world has mostly moved on from the Al Jazeera report alleging HGH/Delta-2 use by certain athletes – partly because of the name Al Jazeera – Ryan Howard hasn’t. Howard and Ryan Zimmerman, who share an attorney, have both filed defamation lawsuits against the network. In a statement, Howard said:
“Today I authorized my attorneys to file suit against Al Jazeera and its reporters. Their irresponsible reporting forced me to take this action to protect my name and to fight back against the spreading of these lies. I will have no further comment, as the filing itself contains all I need to say.”
There is no word on if the filing is just Ryan Howard’s stat sheet since 2011.
Actually, the filing is over here, and points out Al Jazeera’s low ratings and the questionable dealings of athlete (and piece source Liam James Collins). The filing reads, in part:
“But for the reference to Mr. Howard’s prowess as a home run hitter, all of these statements concerning Mr. Howard are categorically untrue. Mr. Howard has never taken Delta 2, human growth hormone, or any other steroid or other performance-enhancing substance banned by the MLB. Mr. Howard has never received any banned substances from Charles David Sly or “taught anything back to” Charles David Sly. Mr. Howard has never “been coached [by Charles David Sly] on what to take and how to avoid testing positive.” And, contrary to what is implied in the program, Charles David Sly played no part in Mr. Howard’s fiftieth home run in 2006 or in any of his many other home runs.”
When he's not writing about sports here or ranting about them on Twitter, Jim is probably watching X-Files on Netflix or drinking a beer somewhere. Jim has nothing against hockey, it's just not his style. He once met Duce Staley at a Sixers game.