Holyfield Denies Steroid Allegations

March 2, 2007

Former world heavyweight boxing champion Evander Holyfield denied any links to an Internet steroid distribution ring from which authorities say he was a customer.

"I do not use steroids. I have never used steroids," said the 44-year-old US fighter who is in the midst of a comeback bid to claim the heavyweight throne for a fifth time.

"I resent that my name has been linked to known steroid users by sources who refuse to be identified in order to generate publicity for their investigation."

Federal agents raided pharmacies in Florida and Alabama, with authorities telling a newspaper of Albany, New York, that Holyfield used the name "Evan Fields" when placing orders from a mobile, Alabama, pharmacy.

Major league baseball and National Football League players were also named on the customer list following Tuesday's seizures of records and computers.

"I'm disappointed that certain members of the media fell for this ploy and chose to use my name in headlines and published my photo alongside stories in today's newspaper about an investigation into a practice that has nothing to do with me or what I stand for," Holyfield said.

Asked by reporters about his purchase of performance-enhancing drugs, Holyfield replied, "enhance me to do what?"

Holyfield will turn 45 in October, the same age as George Foreman when he recaptured the heavyweight title with a stunning 1994 upset of Michael Moorer.

Holyfield was given a medical suspension by New York state athletic commission officials in 2004 for diminished skills and poor performance but the ban was revised in 2005 so other states could license him to fight.