Report: Ankiel received HGH shipments

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Rick Ankiel reportedly received shipments of human growth hormone from a Florida pharmacy in 2004.

According to the New York Daily News, Ankiel received eight shipments of HGH from Signature Pharmacy in Orlando from January to December 2004. The Orlando pharmacy is the center of the investigation of illegal internet prescription drug sales by the Albany, New York district attorney's office.

The Daily News obtained records from Signature Pharmacy that show Ankiel stopped receiving the shipments just before HGH was banned by Major League Baseball in 2005.

There is no test for HGH in Major League Baseball, although a player known to have used it can face a suspension of 50 games under the sport's drug policy.

Ankiel has had a remarkable comeback as a hitter after his promising career as a pitcher ended abruptly with a bout of wildness. He also suffered through injuries to his elbow and knee between 2001 and 2006 as his pitching career faded and his transformation as a hitter began.

Since being recalled from the minors in August, Ankiel has nine homers and 29 runs batted in with a .358 batting average in just 23 games. He has helped the Cardinals vault back into the National League Central race, as the defending World Series champs trail division leaders Chicago and Milwaukee by just one game.

Other athletes to have been caught in the Signature Pharmacy investigation include Rodney Harrison of the NFL's New England Patriots and former NFL quarterback-turned-coach Wade Wilson.