


In 2015, Al Jazeera America ran “The Dark Side: Secrets of the Sports Dopers,” a documentary in which the now-defunct network levied performance-enhancing-substance allegations against multiple professional athletes, including former NFL quarterback Peyton Manning. Al Jazeera’s primary source, pharmacist Charlie Sly, later recanted the information he had provided.
Whether Sly was sincere in his recanting his claims immediately became subject of debate. The story briefly gained national attention, but largely has been forgotten — until now.
Shortly after the story broke, two of the athletes cited by Al Jazeera, former MLB stars Ryan Howard and Ryan Zimmerman, filed defamation lawsuits…