The legal showdown between Albert Pujols and Jack Clark is over before it could get to a courtroom.
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported Monday that Clark has retracted his allegation that Pujols used performance-enhancing drugs, and Pujols has decided to drop his defamation lawsuit against Clark.
The two men on Monday released statements that were obtained by the Post-Dispatch.
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"I would like to address Albert Pujols' pending defamation lawsuit and re-confirm that I have no knowledge whatsoever that Mr. Pujols has ever used illegal or banned PEDs. 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."
And, from Pujols:
"I have accepted Jack Clark's retraction and apology to resolve my lawsuit against him and clear my name."
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Pujols sued Clark on Oct. 4 over comments Clark made Aug. 2 on a radio show he co-hosted on St. Louis' WGNU 920 AM. Clark said he “knew for a fact" that Pujols took performance-enhancing drugs because Pujols' former trainer, Chris Mihlfeld, told him 10 years ago that he "shot (Pujols) up."
The lawsuit alleged that Clark made "malicious, reckless and outrageous falsehoods" that have damaged Pujols' reputation, humiliated him and caused him mental anguish and anxiety.
Clark later proposed that the two settle the matter through the use of dueling polygraph tests.
Mihlfeld has denied the allegations, and the company that hired Clark and co-host Kevin Slaten announced the two had been told not to return to work. Clark and Slaten technically couldn't be fired because they were independent contractors, but they no longer have a show on WGNU.
Pujols was a superstar for the Cardinals from 2001 to 2011. He signed a free-agent contract with the Los Angeles Angels before the 2012 season, but has has battled injuries and has struggled at the plate for his new team.