League summons 2 players

Rick Ankiel and Troy Glaus were accused.

NEW YORK (AP) — Major League Baseball asked Friday to meet with Rick Ankiel and Troy Glaus after the pair were accused of receiving performance-enhancing drugs from a Florida pharmacy under investigation for illegally distributing prescription medications.

Ankiel, who has hit nine homers since rejoining the St. Louis Cardinals last month, received eight shipments of human growth hormone from January to December 2004, the Daily News reported Friday.

Glaus, a four-time All-Star now with the Toronto Blue Jays, received multiple shipments of nandrolone and testosterone between September 2003 and May 2004, SI.com reported.

“We’re going to look into both sets of allegations,” said Rob Manfred, baseball’s executive vice president of labor relations.

“Rick Ankiel has stated he’s not violated any baseball rules. He has not violated any federal or state laws,” said his agent, Scott Boras.

“He only has followed the course of treatment prescribed by his medical doctors during the course of his career.

No comment

Glaus in St. Petersburg, Fla., for Toronto’s game at Tampa Bay, did not stop when reporters tried to speak with him before batting practice.

In May, the Yankees’ Jason Giambi met with baseball lawyers after comments that many interpreted as an admission of steroids use.

Baseball commissioner Bud Selig then pressured Giambi to meet with steroids investigator George Mitchell. After Giambi spoke with Mitchell in July, Selig announced Giambi would not be disciplined.

Giambi is the only active player known to have met with Mitchell, a Boston Red Sox director who is a former Senate Majority Leader.

Because there isn’t a validated urine test for HGH, there are suspicions in baseball that its use is on the rise.

Baseball didn’t ban human growth hormone until 2005 and is helping fund attempts to develop a urine test for the substance.

Ankiel and Glaus both have had careers interrupted by injuries. Ankiel, a former pitcher turned outfielder, overcame elbow and knee injuries and made it back to the majors last month for the first time in three years.

Glaus led the AL with 47 homers in 2000 and was MVP of the 2002 World Series for the Anaheim Angels, then missed large stretches in 2003 and 2004 because of shoulder problems.