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| Nov. 7 (Bloomberg) -- Los Angeles Angels outfielder Gary Matthews Jr. met with Major League Baseball officials today to discuss a newspaper report that he received human growth hormone in 2004, the Associated Press reported, without saying how it got its information. The 33-year-old Matthews said in March that he'd never taken HGH, 16 days after a report in the Times Union of Albany, New York, that said he was a customer of an Internet pharmacy that is being investigated in connection with the illegal distribution of steroids and human growth hormone. HGH is a naturally occurring substance that is banned as a strength builder when added to the body. Baseball didn't place HGH on its banned list until 2005. Baseball spokesman Pat Courtney wouldn't confirm the report, while Scott Leventhal, an agent for Matthews, didn't immediately return a voice-mail message. Los Angeles signed Matthews to a five-year, $50 million contract after he recorded career highs in batting average, home runs and runs batted in during the 2006 season with the Texas Rangers. Matthews played for six teams in eight years before signing with the Angels. He hit .252 with 18 homers, 72 RBI and 18 stolen bases in 140 games this season. |