Cleveland Pitcher Bought HGH

Paul Byrd, the pitcher who's been critical in the Cleveland Indians' successful playoff run this season, bought almost $25,000 worth of human growth hormone between 2002 and 2005, the San Francisco Chronicle learned today. Byrd admitted taking HGH, but told Fox Sports he was using it legally with a prescription. The Chronicle report, however, says two of Byrd’s prescriptions came from a dentist whose license was suspended in 2003 for fraud.

Byrd bought the HGH from a network of anti-aging clinics that authorities believe illegally distributed performance-enhancing drugs, often writing fraudulent prescriptions to do so. Byrd’s new book will detail his HGH use, which he says was prescribed for a brain condition, and which “scouts can testify” never enhanced his performance. Major League Baseball banned HGH in January, 2005. (More Paul Byrd stories.)