Dr. Richard Rydze
Club president: No evidence Rydze provided steroids for any players
Thursday, March 01, 2007
By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center will begin an internal investigation into a large purchase of human growth hormone by Dr. Richard Rydze, one of the center's physicians and a Steelers internist.
Rydze's name surfaced during an investigation by a New York prosecutor into an illicit steroids distribution network that led authorities to raid two facilities Tuesday in Orlando, Fla., and arrest four company officials.
According to the Times-Union of Albany, N.Y., a New York investigator flew to Pittsburgh last month to interview Rydze about why he allegedly used a personal business credit card to purchase about $150,000 in testosterone and human growth hormone in 2006.
Rydze told the investigator the drugs were for his private patients, the paper said, citing an unidentified person briefed on the interview. There are no allegations Rydze violated any laws.
While UPMC officials will conduct an internal investigation, Steelers President Art Rooney II said Rydze assured him that he never prescribed hormone treatments for any players. The NFL bans the use of steroids or human growth hormone by its players.
"I first became aware of the investigation involving Dr. Richard Rydze yesterday afternoon," Rooney said in a statement. "I immediately called Dr. Rydze, who has been a member of our medical staff for many years. He acknowledged that he had a visit at his office a couple months ago from FDA officials.
"Dr. Rydze said the agents made inquiries about his practice and his purchases from a pharmacy in Florida. Dr. Rydze was told that he is not a target of the investigation.
"I advised the league office yesterday of our knowledge of the situation. I have also reviewed the matter with our head trainer, John Norwig, as well as the head of our medical staff, Dr. Tony Yates.
"There is no evidence that Dr. Rydze prescribed or provided any hormone treatments to any of our players. Dr. Rydze has assured me that this has never happened and will never happen.
"We will continue to monitor this situation to make sure that we can continue to feel confident in our medical staff in this area."
Rydze has been on the Steelers' medical staff for 21 years but works mostly during games. Everyone on the team's medical staff is affiliated with UPMC. Calls placed to him were referred to the UPMC news bureau yesterday.
"UPMC became aware of this investigation yesterday afternoon by reading the newspaper reports," said a statement released yesterday by Susan Manko of the UPMC news bureau.
"We have initiated our own internal investigation. At this time we have no further factual information or comments. We, of course, maintain the highest quality of integrity and ethical behavior of our physicians. So we are initiating our own internal review."
Rydze told Sports Illustrated that "The Rooneys are aware that I do this ... I mean, they have my trust that I would never do this with an athlete."
The doctor told the magazine that he made the purchases and uses the HGH to treat elderly patients who are "deficient in growth hormone," and require tendon repair. "[It's] not for athletes, never," says Rydze. "I don't give it to people who want to come in here and look pretty and look young and build up their muscles. I will not do that."
NOTES -- The Steelers must tender a one-year contract offer to offensive tackle Max Starks, a restricted free agent, by today. The Steelers were deciding on whether to issue him a one-year deal of $1.3 million or $1.8 million. Quarterback Brian St. Pierre, their only other restricted free agent, is not expected to receive an offer. ... Defensive end Aaron Smith received an $8 million signing bonus as part of his new five-year, $24.5 million contract.
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(Ed Bouchette can be reached at ebouchette@post-gazette.com.)
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