Amid persistent flap, Matthews Jr. denies taking HGH

TEMPE, Ariz. -- Gary Matthews Jr. ended more than two weeks of silence on Wednesday after being linked to a steroids investigation, denying for the first time that he took human growth hormone.

Matthews allegedly was sent HGH in 2004 from a pharmacy that's part of a widespread steroid investigation. Los Angeles Angels owner Arte Moreno and commissioner Bud Selig had been pushing Matthews to address the issue, and he finally did 16 days after the first stories came out.

"I have never taken HGH -- during the 2004 season or any other time," Matthews said in a statement. "Nobody has accused me of doing so, and no law enforcement authority has said I am a target of any investigation for doing so."

Angels general manager Bill Stoneman said he was glad Matthews finally addressed the issue and that he denied using HGH.

"We're finding out at the same time you are," Stoneman said. "We're happy to find out that he's saying that he never used HGH. We're an organization that feels there isn't a place in our game for any of these illegal substances. He's denying he ever used something he was linked to."

Gary Matthews Jr. watches his HR against the Giants. (AP)

Manager Mike Scioscia said he senses that Matthews was relieved after issuing the statement through the team Wednesday morning. Matthews then went out and homered in the Angels' 4-3 exhibition victory over the San Francisco Giants.

Scioscia said he hopes the statement will help the team focus on baseball.

"There's been a little anxiety in our organization just waiting for this thing to move forward and hopefully move forward toward being resolved," Scioscia said. "This is a huge step there. That's encouraging."

HGH was not banned by baseball for players with major league contracts until 2005. This investigation appears to be targeting the suppliers of the substances, not those who might have received anything from the suppliers.

Stoneman said the team had no plans to discipline Matthews. He said it was up to the commissioner's office to determine whether Matthews violated baseball's drug policy.

"My feeling is that as long as this stuff is accurate in what it is and nothing else pops out at some point, we're fine," Stoneman said. "But again, the way it works in baseball is there is a policy between the owners and players that governs these things."

Selig said it would be inappropriate to comment while his office is investigating the case.

Matthews explained the delay in his denial by saying he and his representatives needed to determine how he got linked to the story.