The Steelers have removed Dr. Richard Rydze from their
medical staff roster, an apparent reaction to the revelation in March that he
had purchased $150,000 in testosterone and human growth hormone with his own
credit card.
Rydze was interviewed by investigators from Albany County,
N.Y., in February, but never accused by them of any wrongdoing. Nevertheless,
his employers at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center began their own
investigation after his name surfaced in the New York case.
More than three months later, UPMC officials are not ready
to comment about their investigation, said Susan Manko of the hospital's news
bureau.
Steelers President Art Rooney II declined comment yesterday
on the team's dropping Dr. Rydze, an internist, after 21 years of working
mostly on game days for them. Previously, Rooney said, "There is no
evidence that Dr. Rydze prescribed or provided any hormone treatments to any of
our players. Dr. Rydze has assured me that this has never happened and will
never happen."
Nevertheless, having a doctor on their staff connected to
steroids purchases apparently was not something the Steelers believed they
could tolerate.
The NFL bans the use of any kind of steroids or human growth
hormone. Dr. Rydze previously told Sports Illustrated he uses the HGH to treat
older patients. He is medical director of the Little Sisters of the Poor
Nursing Facility, according to his bio on a UPMC Web site.
