Roger Clemens yesterday contended he never has taken steroids or human growth hormone, contradicting allegations made in the Mitchell Report by a former personal trainer who was warned of potential felony charges if he made false statements to investigators.
"I want to state clearly and without qualification: I did not take steroids, human growth hormone or any other banned substances at any time in my baseball career or, in fact, my entire life," Clemens said in a statement issued through his agent, Randy Hendricks. "Those substances represent a dangerous and destructive shortcut that no athlete should ever take.
"I am disappointed that my 25 years in public life have apparently not earned me the benefit of the doubt, but I understand that Senator Mitchell's report has raised many serious questions. I plan to publicly answer all of those questions at the appropriate time in the appropriate way. I only ask that in the meantime people not rush to judgment."
Former US senator George Mitchell, in his report to Major League Baseball on steroids and other performance-enhancing substances, wrote that Brian McNamee, a former New York police officer who served as a trainer for the Blue Jays and Yankees while Clemens was a member of those teams and also was a personal trainer to Clemens, injected Clemens with steroids and human growth hormone in 1998 and 2000-01.
McNamee also told Mitchell and his investigators that he injected Clemens's longtime friend and teammate, Andy Pettitte, with human growth hormone in 2002, while Pettitte was recovering from an elbow injury. Pettitte last weekend acknowledged his use of HGH. McNamee is not wavering from his story, his lawyer, Ed Ward, said in a statement in response to Clemens.
"He stands 100 percent behind the accuracy of the information he provided to Sen. Mitchell," Ward said.
But while he has yet to address the subject personally, Clemens apparently has elected to challenge the credibility of McNamee and the Mitchell Report as it pertains to him.
In another development, the players' union accepted an invitation from commissioner Bud Selig to meet and discuss the recommendations Mitchell made in his report.
"They wrote back, and they were amenable to discuss the recommendations," said Rob Manfred, baseball's executive vice president for labor relations.
Donald Fehr, executive director of the union, said it was too early to tell where the talks might lead. "We've had communication with Bud, and we'll be talking with players, and we'll go from there," Fehr said.
Clemens, a seven-time Cy Young Award winner, was the most prominent name to surface in the report prepared by Mitchell, and quickly has been condemned by many as being the pitching equivalent of indicted slugger Barry Bonds, superstars who were able to perform at phenomenal levels in the late stages of their careers because they cheated. McNamee told investigators he injected Clemens with steroids in 1998, with steroids and HGH in 2000, and steroids in 2001.
McNamee was mentioned in a sworn affidavit in connection with a steroid investigation involving former pitcher Jason Grimsley and also is linked to the steroids case involving former Mets clubhouse man Kirk Radomski. Last week, Clemens's lawyer, Rusty Hardin, called the allegations "totally false" and complained Clemens was "being slandered."
Besides Pettitte, other players named in the Mitchell Report admitting to having used performance-enhancing substances include Fernando Vina, Gary Bennett, F.P. Santangelo, and Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts. All but Roberts admitted to having used HGH. Roberts said he tried steroids once.
Former Red Sox reliever Brendan Donnelly, who was nontendered a contract last week but still could re-sign with the team as he rehabilitates from Tommy John elbow surgery, is among a group of players named in the report who deny using illegal performance-enhancing substances.
"In 2004, I was having multiple physical problems and was concerned about not getting back on the field for even close to the level I had experienced," Donnelly said in a statement. "I made a phone call to Radomski. We discussed Anavar. Upon learning that Anavar was classified as a steroid, I realized that was not an option. That was the end of it. Yes, I called him. But I did not purchase or receive anything from him. I never took Deca or Anavar."
Other players who have denied allegations include David Justice and Gregg Zaun.
The Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association, which had invited Clemens to speak at the group's annual convention next month, met in executive session yesterday to decide whether to rescind the invitation and postponed a resolution.
"We feel we owe it to our association and Roger himself to give him the benefit of the doubt further," said Jim Long, president of the association.
Gordon Edes can be reached at edes@globe.com; material from the Associated Press was used.
