Tribe's Byrd admits purchasing HGH

Baseball Betting Lines

10/21/2007 - Boston, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Cleveland Indians pitcher Paul Byrd did not dispute a newspaper report from earlier Sunday, which detailed the veteran's purchase of human growth hormone over a period of more than two years.

The San Francisco Chronicle cited business records as showing Byrd bought nearly $25,000 worth of HGH from August 2002 to January 2005, just before Major League Baseball banned the substance. Included in those purchases were more than 1,000 vials of the prescription drugs and hundreds of syringes.

According to the Chronicle report, records provided by a confidential source showed Byrd's purchase and shipping orders, payment information, birth date and Social Security number.

Byrd responded to the report in a press conference before Game 7 of the American League Championship Series.

"I have never taken any hormone or any drug that hasn't been prescribed to me from a doctor," Byrd said of his HGH purchases. "That is the key to this, I have a reputation. I speak at a lot of places. I speak to kids, I speak to churches and I don't want people to think I cheated. It's very important to me to make people understand that."

Byrd said in an earlier interview with FOXSports.com that he had pituitary issues.

"The Indians, my coaches and MLB have known that I have had a pituitary gland issue for some time and have assisted me in getting blood tests in different states," Byrd said in the interview. "I am currently working with an endocrinologist and will have another MRI on my head after the season to make sure that the tumor hasn't grown."

The Chronicle reported that Byrd made 13 purchases from the Palm Beach Rejuvenation Center, which has been targeted by the Albany, New York district attorney for alleged illegal sales of drugs. The DA's office has included other clinics and pharmacies in Florida and Alabama as part of its probe, claiming jurisdiction because millions of dollars worth of the banned drugs were allegedly sold in New York.

Byrd pitched for the Kansas City Royals and Atlanta Braves during the time frame. He reportedly used his credit card to make purchases and had shipments sent to an address in suburban Kansas City, his home in Alpharetta, Georgia, the Braves' spring training facility in Florida and a New York City hotel when the Braves were playing the Mets.

Now 36 years old, Byrd had his best season in 2002 -- the summer of his first alleged purchase -- with Kansas City, when he posted a record of 17-11 with a 3.90 earned run average, seven complete games and two shutouts in 33 starts.

After missing the entire 2003 season because of an elbow injury, Byrd followed with an 8-7 campaign in 19 starts with Atlanta in 2004.

The Chronicle reported that the last purchase Byrd made was during the first week of January 2005. A week later, MLB formally banned the use of HGH.

HGH has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for certain conditions and diseases, one of which is adult growth-hormone deficiency.

Byrd was 15-8 with a 4.59 ERA in 31 starts this season for the Indians and has two wins in as many starts this postseason.

The Indians released a statement on the scandal early Sunday morning.

"We aware of the story regarding Paul," said Indians general manager Mark Shapiro. "I have spoken with Paul about the situation, however, at this time I don't feel I have enough information to make any further comments on the matter. He has been an important member of this organization -- on and off the field -- over the last two years and we support him in this process."

Major League Baseball also responded with a statement released before Game 7 of the ALCS.

"We will investigate the allegations concerning Paul Byrd as we have players implicated in previous similar reports," the release said. "Since Mr. Byrd and his club, the Cleveland Indians, are currently active in post-season play, we will interview Mr. Byrd prior to the start of the World Series should the Cleveland club advance."

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