James Harrison, Clay Matthews and Julius Peppers cleared in NFL investigation of PED allegations

James Harrison, Clay Matthews and Julius Peppers were cleared by the NFL on Wednesday after an investigation into allegations that they used performance enhancing drugs made in an Al-Jazeera America documentary late last year.

“The NFL found no credible evidence that Pittsburgh’s James Harrison and Green Bay’s Clay Matthews and Julius Peppers were provided with or used substances prohibited under the NFL-NFLPA Policy on Performance-Enhancing Substances following a comprehensive investigation into allegations made in a documentary by Al-Jazeera America,” the league said in a statement.

In the Al-Jazeera report that aired in December, a man identified as Charlie Sly named Harrison, Matthews and Harrison among the athletes he said had purchased or used PEDs. Sly has since recanted his claims, but the NFL informed Harrison and the others in January that it would investigate the allegations on its own.

The three players initially refused to be interviewed as part of the investigation.

“I’m not going to answer questions for every little thing some Tom, Dick and Harry comes up with,” Harrison told reporters Aug. 16.

Earlier this month the, NFL gave them an Aug. 25 deadline to submit to interviews or face possible suspension. The league said in its statement Wednesday that all three players were interviewed at their team facilities last week.

In addition, the league stated, “the investigation involved witness interviews, a review of relevant records and other materials, electronic research, and laboratory analysis and review.”