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JASON GRIMSLEY Steroids accuser |
NEW YORK - Jose Canseco, Lenny Dykstra, and Rafael Palmeiro were among nine players accused of doping by former major league pitcher Jason Grimsley in a federal agent's affidavit unsealed yesterday.
Roger Clemens wasn't one of them, despite a published report last year that singled him out. He was, however, prominently mentioned in last week's Mitchell Report on doping, but has denied ever using performance-enhancing drugs.
Grimsley accused Canseco, Dykstra, Glenallen Hill, and Geronimo Berroa of taking steroids. He also accused Chuck Knoblauch of using human growth hormone; David Segui and Allen Watson of using performance-enhancing drugs; and Palmeiro and Pete Incaviglia of taking amphetamines, according to IRS Special Agent Jeff Novitzky's sworn statement.
All but Incaviglia, Berroa, and Watson were mentioned last week in the Mitchell Report.
At the request of federal prosecutors, a judge in Phoenix unsealed the 20-page affidavit signed by Novitzky in May 2006 used to obtain a search warrant for Grimsley's home in Scottsdale, Ariz.
When the affidavit first was released in June 2006, players' names were blacked out. The Associated Press asked a federal magistrate judge to make the complete statement public, but the request was denied this July.
In October 2006, the Los Angeles Times reported the names of Clemens, Andy Pettitte, Miguel Tejada, Brian Roberts, and Jay Gibbons were among those blacked out. Tejada's name was mentioned when Grimsley described a conversation he had with Baltimore Orioles teammates Tejada, Palmeiro, and Sammy Sosa about how they would play after baseball banned amphetamines.
Segui said last year that his name was in the affidavit.
Just after the newspaper's report was published, Kevin Ryan, then the US Attorney in San Francisco, said it contained "significant inaccuracies."
Yesterday, the Times said it would run a correction in today's paper.
"We acknowledge the inaccuracies of the report and deeply regret the mistake," Times spokesman Stephan Pechdimaldji said.
In a separate two-page order, US Magistrate Judge Edward C. Voss in Phoenix cited the newspaper for "abusive reporting" in its article that linked Clemens to the affidavit.
"At best, the article is an example of irresponsible reporting," Voss wrote. "At worst, the 'facts' reported were simply manufactured. Hopefully, any reference to the Times article as authoritative will now cease."
Pettitte and Jay Gibbons admitted in recent weeks they used HGH, with the pitcher saying he used it twice in 2002 - three years before it was banned by baseball. Earlier this month, Gibbons was suspended for the first 15 days of next season.
Roberts admitted a single use of steroids in 2003.
"When this grossly inaccurate story broke in October 2006, Roger said it was untrue and the Los Angeles Times chose not to believe him. As the record now clearly proves, Roger was telling the truth then, just as he continues to tell the truth today," Clemens's lawyer, Rusty Hardin, said in a statement. "Roger Clemens did not take steroids, and anybody who says he did had better start looking for a hell of a good lawyer."
Hearst Corp. has been trying to unseal an affidavit by Novitzky used in the case involving Mets clubhouse attendant Kirk Radomski, who has pleaded guilty and awaits sentencing on felony charges of distributing steroids and laundering money. Hearst's request was denied in US District Court, and the company asked the 2d US Circuit Court of Appeals to review it.
Late last night, that affidavit, too, was ordered unsealed.
© Copyright 2007 Globe Newspaper Company.
