Re: Clemens setting himself up for possible jail time.
Washington, DC (Sports Network) - Seven-time Cy Young Award-winner Roger Clemens arrived on Capitol Hill Tuesday and gave private, sworn testimony to deny that he ever used performance-enhancing drugs.
Wearing a pinstripe gray suit and accompanied by two attorneys, Clemens went behind closed doors to testify to congressional lawyers one day after Yankee teammate and good friend Andy Pettitte testified for over two hours. Clemens' session at the offices of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. lasted just over five hours.
He made a short statement after exiting the meeting.
"I just want to thank the committee, the staff that I just met with," Clemens said. "They were very courteous. It was great to be able to tell them what I've been saying all along -- that I never used steroids or (human) growth hormone. I look forward to being here, I guess, in this room next week."
Last Monday, Clemens' agent released a 44-page statistical report to rebut allegations that the pitcher's career had a resurgence after he was accused of using performance-enhancing drugs. Randy Hendricks and two associates at his law firm issued the report in hopes of explaining Clemens' unique career arc, and to refute allegations in Major League Baseball's Mitchell report.
George Mitchell, the former Senate majority leader and director of the Boston Red Sox, was hired by MLB to investigate steroid use in the game. Mitchell reported that Brian McNamee, a former personal trainer of Clemens, claimed he injected the pitcher with steroids and human growth hormone at least 16 times between 1998 and 2001. McNamee is scheduled to testify on Thursday.
Kirk Radomski, a former batboy and clubhouse employee for the New York Mets, is scheduled to testify next Tuesday. Radomski pleaded guilty in United States district court to money laundering and illegal distribution of anabolic steroids and HGH to several major leaguers. He faces a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison.
Former Yankee Chuck Knoblauch, whose name appeared in the Mitchell Report, testified under oath to the committee staff lawyers last Friday.
The private testimony is leading up to next Wednesday's public hearing before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.
Clemens has consistently denied taking any performance enhancing drugs, but his career did seem to take an upturn during the time frame McNamee claims he was injecting the pitcher with illegal substances.
Clemens was 192-111 with the Boston Red Sox from 1984 through 1996, winning three Cy Youngs and a Most Valuable Player award, but the fireballer went just 40-39 in his last four seasons with the club, sparking then general manager Dan Duquette to say Clemens was in the "twilight of his career."
Clemens said that the only thing McNamee ever injected into him was a pain- killer called lidocaine and the Vitamin B-12. He said he never used steroids and disagrees with the use of it, saying that it is just a "quick fix."
Instead, the pitcher went on to compile a 162-73 record in stints with Toronto, the New York Yankees and Houston, winning four Cy Youngs in the process.
The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee has also scheduled a hearing for next Tuesday entitled "Myths and Facts About Human Growth Hormone, B-12, and Other Substances." The committee will have medical experts on hand to testify about the nature of some of the substances with the idea for the public to understand if the claims of those having positive health impacts are fact or myth.
