In a story of March 7, The Associated Press
quoted former major league relief pitcher John Rocker saying he was
advised by physicians to buy non-prescription growth hormones to treat
his injured arm. "Every one of them said go to a GNC, buy something
over the counter, human growth hormone, these very several amino acids
… basically (that) is the way it’s done," Rocker said in an interview
with ESPN Radio, quoted by the AP.
The story
should have noted that human growth hormone is not legally available
anywhere over the counter. It should also have included comment from
General Nutrition Centers, Inc., which provided a statement to the AP
after the story was published. "GNC does not sell or distribute – nor
has it sold or distributed in the past – human growth hormone in its
stores or online. Human growth hormone is a prescription drug. GNC
sells dietary supplements and other food products, not prescription
drugs," said Steven Nelson, GNC’s senior vice president marketing. Link
Mariners | Minor-leaguer busts steroids myths:
In an earlier version of this story, the Stanford survey by Mariners
minor-leaguer Chris Minaker was misinterpreted. Minaker conducted the
survey for his thesis; and in answer to one question, nine of 89
athletes said they had "felt the need to take steroids." But the
article went too far in saying that they did; Minaker meant only that
they had thought they needed to. He did not know whether they actually
did. Link
