( CNN ) -- A former team doctor for the Pittsburgh Steelers was arrested Friday on charges of conspiracy to illegally distribute anabolic steroids , human growth hormone and painkillers to his patients , though authorities declined to comment on whether the drugs were ever prescribed to players . Dr. Richard A. Rydze , 62 , faces a 185-count indictment for allegedly dispensing the drugs from September 2007 through March 2011 , though other related charges date back to 2005 , prosecutors said . `` Doctors have a tremendous power in prescribing medication , and the vast majority use that power to dispense medicine to help sick people , '' said Steven M. Dettelbach , U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Ohio . `` This doctor is accused of using his prescription pad like a personal ATM , doling out steroids , painkillers and other medicine for his own gain . '' Two other men -- William Zipf , 56 , and James Hatzimbes , 42 -- were also indicted , accused of related conduct , the U.S. attorney said in a statement . Rydze and his alleged co-conspirators are accused of enriching themselves by distributing the drugs for `` bodybuilding and athletic performance enhancement , '' while scheduling so-called `` steroid clinics '' at a Pittsburgh wellness center run by Hatzimbes . The veteran football doctor told ESPN that the practice never involved members of the Steelers team . `` Because I was associated with the Steelers , the assumption was that I was giving everyone on the Steelers growth hormone or steroids , '' Rydze told ESPN.com . `` You say a team doctor for the Pittsburgh Steelers , and you are saying he is buying growth hormone from a pharmacy in Florida -- what the hell else are you going to think ? '' He said the `` whole thing got way overblown . '' `` I was doing some kind of little bit of research back then and using growth hormone to help heal people with tendon injuries . That seems to be , in my estimation in looking at that hormone , the only role it really plays in helping people . It does seem to make you heal better , quicker . So we were using it with various orthopedic patients . `` It was never done in athletes , '' he said . `` It was never with any Steelers . '' Rydze allegedly often diagnosed his patients as having hormone imbalance , pituitary deficiency or adrenal insufficiency , and then prescribed the drugs , the indictment said . The steroids included Stanozolol , Nandrolone Decanoate , Testosterone Enanthate , Testosterone Cypionate , Oxandrolone and Testosterone . Attorneys for the three men could not be immediately reached for comment . The Steelers also did not immediately return calls requesting comment .
Dr. Richard A. Rydze , 62 , faces a 185-count indictment for allegedly dispensing the drugs . The charges include conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and money laundering in connection with his alleged role as an unlicensed drug dealer who sold prescription painkillers without a prescription. The veteran football doctor told ESPN that the practice never involved Steelers team members . He said the `` whole thing got way overblown ''