Steelers linebacker James Harrison strongly denied a news report that linked him to a substance that is banned by the NFL.

Harrison was named in an Al Jazeera report for receiving the banned substance Delta-2, which is described as a hormone supplement that is “steroidal in nature” but is not an anabolic steroid.

A former intern at the Indianapolis-based Guyer Institute of Molecular Medicine was the source for the story, but he quickly recanted once it became public Saturday night.

“He has never supplied me with anything,” Harrison said. “I never took steroids - point, blank, period, end of discussion.”

When asked how his name came up in the report, Harrison responded: “I don’t know, man. I got it, they want to claim it. I guess it’s just easy, y’all want to chew into it, y’all want to believe it. . You know what, ‘James Harrison is strong because he’s taking something.’ (Heck) no, James Harrison is strong because he worked at it.”

Charlie Sly, the former intern, told ESPN on Saturday night that he recanted his story when he realized that it had used information he had “made up” to Liam Collins, a British hurdler and the undercover reporter who he said was trying to get into the supplementation business.”

Other high-profile athletes named in the report are denying it as well. Denver quarterback Peyton Manning’s camp vociferously denied the allegations.

Bill Parise, Harrison’s agent, said Harrison’s reputation was “tarnished” by the report.

“There is absolutely categorically not one shred of truth to it,” Parise said of Harrison’s involvement. James will be a target because he’s super human. I’m really glad (Sly) recanted that. That saves a lot of time and pain. It’s stupidity. It’s sad people want to tarnish the hard work that James has done. His workouts are legendary. Someone wants to tarnish that just for a story. Why don’t you praise people who work hard and achieve greatness rather than take shortcuts?”