May 13, 2008
Clemens denies steroids claims
Roger Clemens, long considered the best pitcher of his
era, now has an element of doubt surrounding the legitimacy of his accomplishments. He was the biggest name - besides Barry Bonds - linked to the use of steroids in the Mitchell Report released yesterday.
Later yesterday, through his lawyer and agent, Clemens strongly denied the claims made about him in the report.
Clemens, a seven-time Cy Young Award winner and 354-game winner, was accused by his longtime trainer, Brian McNamee, in the report of using steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs. During the investigation of former Mets clubhouse attendant Kirk Radomski, McNamee also came under investigation and entered into a written agreement with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of California that provided he would cooperate, according to the Mitchell Report.
McNamee provided detailed descriptions of Clemens' alleged steroid use in the report. Former player Jose Canseco also made allegations against Clemens. However, without corroborating evidence, it could be considered a he-said/he-said argument. Reached by Newsday yesterday, McNamee declined to comment.
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In the Mitchell Report, McNamee says he personally injected Clemens with several kinds of steroids, including Winstrol and testosterone (labeled Sustanon 250 or Deca-Durabolin). McNamee worked for the Blue Jays as their strength and conditioning coach in 1998-99, part of which time Clemens was with the Blue Jays. McNamee joined the Yankees as their assistant strength and conditioning coach in 2000 after Clemens was traded to the Yankees in February 1999.
Clemens' agent, Randy Hendricks, released a statement put out by Clemens' lawyer, Rusty Hardin, that strongly denied the claims in the Mitchell Report.
The statement begins: "Roger Clemens vehemently denies allegations in the Mitchell Report that he used performance-enhancing steroids, and is outraged that his name is included in the report based on the uncorroborated allegations of a troubled man threatened with federal criminal prosecution."
Hardin said in the release: "Roger has been repeatedly tested for these substances and he has never tested positive. There has never been one shred of tangible evidence that he ever used these substances and yet he is being slandered today."
Clemens, 45, has not officially retired, though many believe he will not pitch in 2008. The past two seasons, he did not officially join a team (the Astros in 2006 and the Yankees in 2007) until well into the season. He was 6-6 with a 4.18 ERA in 18 games this year after having an ERA below 3.00 in each of three seasons with the Astros.
Clemens has pitched for the Red Sox, Blue Jays, Yankees and Astros. No mention of any use of performance-enhancing drugs comes up in Mitchell's report until McNamee was hired by the Blue Jays in 1998. That summer, according to the report: "Clemens approached McNamee and, for the first time, brought up the subject of using steroids. Clemens said that he was not able to inject himself, and he asked for McNamee's help."
The report comments on Clemens' improved performance in the second half of that season. In April-May 1998, a year in which Clemens won the American League Cy Young Award, he went 5-6 with a 3.50 ERA in 11 games. In June-September, he went 15-0 with a 2.29 ERA in 22 games.
Further description of the type and number of injections McNamee provided to Clemens follows in the report. It says, "McNamee said that he and Clemens did not have any conversations regarding performance-enhancing substances from late 2000 until August 2001. McNamee did, however, train Clemens and Andy Pettitte during the offseason at their homes in Houston."
The relationship between Clemens and McNamee is well-documented, and Clemens previously has acknowledged training with McNamee.
Clemens' name previously has been loosely linked to the use of steroids. It was mentioned in an affidavit involving former major league pitcher Jason Grimsley, and Jose Canseco wrote in his book, "Juiced," that Clemens' late-career success showed "classic signs" of steroids use. At the time, Hendricks told Newsday: "Roger says it is all nonsense ... [Clemens] takes vitamin B-12 shots ... and will pass every [drug] test."
According to Mitchell, who was appointed in March 2006 to investigate baseball's steroids problem, Clemens declined requests to meet with Mitchell about the allegations.
Regardless of whether further evidence comes out against Clemens, damage has been done to his previously unassailable qualifications for the Hall of Fame. Earlier this year, voters went strongly against Mark McGwire, who was linked to the use of performance-enhancing drugs.
Staff writer Jim Baumbach contributed to this story.
Copyright © 2008, Newsday Inc.
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