Pittsburgh Steelers' James Harrison denied PED use in sworn affidavit

Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison has denied ever taking performance-enhancing drugs and said he never has met or had communication with Charles Sly.

In a sworn affidavit submitted to the NFL by the NFL Players Association, Harrison refuted allegations made in an Al Jazeera America documentary, "The Dark Side" that said he used PEDs supplied by Sly, an intern pharmacist.

"As a professional athlete, I have met thousands of people during my career," Harrison wrote in the affidavit, "but to the best of my knowledge and recollection, I have never met with the individual who is apparently named Charles Sly. ..."

Along with Harrison, Green Bay Packers linebackers Clay Matthews, Julius Peppers and free-agent linebacker Mike Neal also were accused in the Al-Jazeera report of violating the league's police on PEDs.

Only Harrison has submitted a sworn affidavit.

The Al Jazeera documentary aired in December and sparked an investigation by the NFL. In "The Dark Side," Sly admits to an undercover reporter he is providing a substance named D2 or Delta-2 to Harrison.

After the documentary aired, Sly recanted his statements, but the league still vowed to pursue an investigation.

NFL senior vice president of labor policy and government affairs, Adolpho Birch told the players union last month that the league planned to interview Harrison, Matthews and Peppers on the first day of their respective training camps. Neal's interview would take place around July 22.

Harrison's letter signals a high-profile standoff between the league and the NFLPA, which wants commissioner Roger Goodell to provide "credible evidence" before players agree to a face-to-face interview.

Last month, Harrison set the terms of an interview in an Instagram post saying that a meeting with the NFL must take place at his house before training camp begins and only if commissioner Roger Goodell shows up for the interview.

Harrison posted a copy of the NFL's letter scheduling his interview for Thursday, July 28, the day before the Steelers open camp in Latrobe, Pa.

Retired future Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning also was linked to PEDs in the Al-Jazeera documentary. The report alleged that Manning was given a supply of human growth hormone in 2011 from an Indiana-based anti-aging clinic.

Manning, who announced his retirement following the Denver Broncos' victory in Super Bowl 50 in February, has no obligation to cooperate in the league's investigation as a retired player.

Manning has vehemently denied accusations he used human-growth hormone or PEDs during his recovery from neck surgery in 2011. Manning was not mentioned in the letter about the NFL investigation.

Sources have said that Manning likely will cooperate and submit to an interview with the NFL.