Ryan Zimmerman, Ryan Howard file defamation suits against Al Jazeera

The Al Jazeera report linking many athletes, including Peyton Manning, to performance-enhancing drugs will apparently be on its way to the courtroom. Two other athletes named in the reports, Ryan Zimmerman of the Washington Nationals and Ryan Howard of the Philadelphia Phillies, have filed lawsuits.

A recent Al Jazeera documentary linked Zimmerman, Howard and Manning, among other athletes, to a clinic that allegedly distributed steroids and HGH. 

The suits refer to the documentary "The Dark Side: Secrets of Sports Doping," which Al-Jazeera America broadcast Dec. 27.

The suit alleges that Charles Sly, a pharmacist who appeared in the documentary, made false statements when he said Zimmerman and Howard both took a human growth hormone.

The documentary also suggested that Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning took HGH while recovering from neck surgery.

Each suit seeks an unspecified amount in damages.

A spokeswoman for Al-Jazeera America says the network will not comment.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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