Los Angeles Angels slugger Albert Pujols is threatening legal action against Jack Clark after the former major leaguer accused the first baseman of taking performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs).
"I am currently in the process of taking legal action against Jack Clark and his employers at WGNU 920AM," Pujols said in a statement released Friday. "I am going to send a message that you cannot act in a reckless manner, like they have, and get away with it. If I have to be the athlete to carry the torch and pave the way for other innocent players to see that you can do something about it, I am proud to be that person. I have five young children and I take being a role model very seriously. The last thing I want is for the fans, and especially the kids out there, to question my reputation and character."
Clark also accused Detroit Tiger pitcher Justin Verlander of using PEDs on his radio show on WGNU 920 AM in St. Louis. Tim McKernan, head of insideSTL Enterprises, LLC, confirmed to USA TODAY Sports that Clark and co-host Kevin Slaten will not return be returning to the station after only seven shows.
Slaten had said on-the-air that he long believed that Pujols "has been a juicer," with Clark replying, "I know for a fact he was. The trainer that worked with [Pujols], threw him batting practice from Kansas City, that worked him out every day, basically told me that's what he did."
Clark went further, later that day, appearing on Doug Gottlieb's CBS Radio show Friday after Clark's remarks drew national attention, saying that "I know for a fact that Chris Mihlfield [Pujols' trainer] told me that" adding that Mihfield offered his services to inject him as he had done with Pujols.
ESPN's TJ Quinn reached out to Mihlfeld, who vehemently denied Clark's accusations.
"I haven't even talked to Jack Clark in close to 10 years," said Mihlfeld. "His statements are simply not true. I have known Albert Pujols since he was 18 years old, and he would never use illegal drugs in any way. I would bet my life on it and probably drop dead on the spot if I found out he has. As before, once again both Albert and myself have been accused of doing something we didn't do."
Verlander deflected Clark's comments in the media prior to the Tigers game against the New York Yankees, calling them "moronic."
"There is no merit in what he is talking about. He's not watching me pitch. Because if he did, he would've seen my last start, right?," said the former Rookie of the Year award, Cy Young award, and AL Most Valuable Player award-winner. "He's saying I'm struggling to hit 93, 94? I averaged 97 and hit a 100 in my last start. So clearly he doesn't know what he's talking about."
Pujols is self-aware that fans may not believe him, considering other MLB players have done the same, but he feels that he has to protect his reputation from attacks such as Clark's accusations against the Angels' slugger.
"I know people are tired of athletes saying they are innocent, asking for the public to believe in them, only to have their sins exposed later down the road," Pujols said in his statement. "But I am not one of those athletes, and I will not stand to have my name and my family's name, dragged through the mud."
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