"I have a reputation," the 36-year-old pitcher said. "I speak to kids. I speak to churches. I do not want the fans of Cleveland, and I do not want honest, caring people to think that I cheated, because I didn't."
Citing an anonymous law enforcement source, the newspaper reported that Byrd purchased HGH from a Palm Beach, Fla., anti-aging clinic that is under investigation by authorities for possible illegal distribution of performance-enhancing drugs.
HGH was added to Major League Baseball's list of banned substances in 2005. Byrd, who pitched for the Phillies from 1998 to 2001, reportedly received the shipments while he was a member of the Kansas City Royals, Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Angels.
Byrd said he was prescribed HGH for a pituitary problem. He added, without elaboration, that he has a tumor. Citing privacy, he would not say whether he was still taking HGH.
Two of the prescriptions, the Chronicle reported, were written by a Florida dentist. The dentist had his license suspended in 2003 because of fraud and incompetence.
Pat Courtney, a spokesman for the commissioner's office, said Major League Baseball was not previously aware of Byrd's use of HGH. Courtney added that baseball has never granted a Therapeutic Use Exemption for HGH.
Major League Baseball is conducting an investigation into the use of performance-enhancing drugs - the gory details could be out by the end of the year - and officials plan to speak with Byrd in the coming days.
Indians general manager Mark Shapiro said he had become aware of the issue Friday night.
"With the incomplete knowledge I've got of the situation, it's difficult for me to provide a complete judgment or opinion," Shapiro said yesterday.
