An old friend of controversy John Rocker turns up again. This time the New York Daily News reports that Rocker's name is mentioned in relationship to the Orlando bust (actually in relation to another Southern Internet pharmacy). Rocker's publicist says a physician prescribed HGH for Rocker's shoulder injury several years ago. (SI page, which broke the original story)
With his career fast fading in 2003, loudmouth
pitcher John Rocker of Atlanta Braves and 7-Train fame turned to human
growth hormone.
His publicist, responding to an inquiry by the Daily News, said Rocker admitted taking HGH, now prohibited by Major League Baseball, but insisted he needed the controversial substance for medical reasons. His name emerged today in a wide-ranging investigation originating in the Albany County District Attorney's office into a nationwide prescription drug ring in which more than a dozen people have been indicted.
Here is the medical story. Rocker was
prescribed HGH for rehab of the rotator cuff surgery. That
prescription would be controversial. Furthermore a legitimate
prescription would be filled at a local pharmacy and not an Internet
drug house.
"That was a growth hormone that was prescribed by a doctor in relation to his rotator cuff surgery in 2003, so I don't really think there is anything to the story," said Debi Curzio, Rocker's publicist.
Human growth hormone, however, is not normally used as post-surgical therapy, numerous medical experts have said. Medically it is prescribed for people with pituitary problems, AIDS "wasting" disease and other growth-related issues. If Rocker had needed the drug, it is unclear why he would have turned to Allied Pharmacy of Mobile, Ala., one of five pharmacies caught up in the alleged Internet steroid and HGH scandal over the last week
According to a report in Sports Illustrated today, Rocker's name was listed among clients of Allied, whose offices were searched by DEA agents in August. According to the report, Rocker received the drug somatropin, a form of growth hormone, in April and July 2003, the same time period in which he was trying to get a job with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
The Nation wonders if the HGH made his mouth bigger?
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