Panthers Linked to Steroids

Carolina Panthers Todd Sauerbrun and Jeff Mitchell and former Panther Todd Steussie had steroid prescriptions filled by a West Columbia, S.C., doctor under investigation by federal authorities, according to a “60 Minutes Wednesday” report.

In a release Tuesday, the CBS News program said the players all had prescriptions for testosterone cream filled within two weeks of the Panthers’ appearance in the 2004 Super Bowl at Houston.

In addition to the cream, banned by the NFL, Sauerbrun -- one of the league’s top punters -- also obtained syringes and the injectable steroid Stanozolol, also banned by the league.

The prescriptions reportedly were written by Dr. James Shortt, the subject of a Drug Enforcement Administration probe for allegedly prescribing steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs.

“We’ve heard rumors and speculation about what was going to be in the CBS report, but this is the first time we’ve heard the specific allegations,” Panther General Manager Marty Hurney said.

The “60 Minutes Wednesday” report also includes an interview with a former employee of Shortt, Mignon Simpson, who says she shipped human growth hormone to NFL players and that possibly half a dozen players received HGH from Shortt.

CBS said Mitchell and Steussie, now with Tampa Bay, did not respond to calls and letters seeking comment, and that Sauerbrun said he liked Shortt very much before calling back to say he didn’t know the doctor.