Albert Pujols Drops Defamation Suit Against Jack Clark, Who Alleged Angels Slugger Used PEDs

Despite being linked to performance-enhancing drug use last summer, Los Angeles Angels first baseman Albert Pujols will not pursue any legal action against his accuser. Through the airwaves of St. Louis sports radio last summer, Jack Clark, a former on-air personality in the Missouri city, said he ‘knew for a fact’ that the former Cardinals MVP and World Series champion used PED’s during his time in St. Louis. Citing a conversation with Pujols’ former trainer -- though the fitness expert denied speaking with him -- Clark gave birth to a monster story surrounding one of the biggest figures in professional baseball.

The nine-time All-Star and three-time National League MVP filed a lawsuit against Jack Clark in October while consistently maintaining that he never used the drugs. Clark was subsequently relieved of his radio duties after just seven shows and has since apologized to the current Angels slugger for his poor choice of words. Issuing a statement Monday stating that he does not have any knowledge of Pujols ever using PEDs, Clark apologized for misspeaking on the air and accusing Albert Pujols of drug use.

“I would like to address Albert Pujols' pending defamation lawsuit and reconfirm that I have no knowledge whatsoever that Mr. Pujols has ever used illegal or banned PEDs," Clark said. "I publicly retract my statements that Albert Pujols used such substances. During a heated discussion on air, I misspoke and for that I sincerely apologize.” Clark made the comments last August while co-hosting a program on WGNU 920 AM in St. Louis where he said he held a conversation with Pujols’ former trainer Chris Mihlfeld. It was during that discussion where Clark initially claimed Mihlfeld told him he ‘shot Pujols up’ 10 years ago. Mihlfeld denied the report, stating that he hasn’t spoken to Jack Clark in over a decade.

Scripting a brief statement of his own saying that he has accepted Clark’s apology, Pujols now hopes his name will be cleared and all parties can move on from the previous events. “I have accepted Jack Clark's retraction and apology to resolve my lawsuit against him and clear my name.”