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‘Almost-Numb’ Clemens Issues Videotaped Denial Of PED Allegations; LA Times Issues Retraction
By Administrator | December 23, 2007
Roger Clemens has issued his first formal statement in response to the allegations made against him by former trainer Brian McNamee.
In a videotaped statement released on both youtube.com and his official Web site, Clemens described himself as being “almost numb” with respect to the accusations that are set forth in The Mitchell Report. In part, he said: “Let me be clear: The answer is no, I did not use steroids, human growth hormone, and I’ve never done so. I did not provide Brian McNamee with any drugs to inject into my body. Brian McNamee did not inject steroids or human growth hormone into my body, either when I played in Toronto for the Blue Jays, or the New York Yankees. This report is simply not true”.
He said that the fallout from The Mitchell Report has been very difficult for he and his family to cope with: “Over the last 15 days, it’s been extremely difficult, for my family, my children, my extended family. I’m holding up better than they are. I’m almost numb to some of these suggestions that I used steroids. It’s amazing to me that I’m going to lengths that I’m going to have to defend myself”.
About previous allegations that have tied him to steroids, he said: “I faced this last year when the L.A. Times reported that I used steroids. I said it was not true then. Now, the whole world knows it’s not true now that that’s come out. [NOTE: The LA Times printed a retraction and apology in today's edition] It’s surfaced again later now with this Mitchell Report”.
Clemens concluded: “I’m angry about (the Mitchell Report). It’s hurtful to me and my family. But we are coming upon Christmas now and I have been blessed in my life. I’ve been blessed in my career and I’m very thankful for those blessings”.
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Watch Clemens’ denial on youtube HERE.
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In today’s LA Times, in a section entitled “For The Record”, the Times editors wrote:
Baseball: A front-page article on Oct. 1, 2006, incorrectly reported that in a search warrant affidavit filed in May 2006 in federal court in Phoenix, an investigator alleged that pitcher Jason Grimsley named former teammates Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte, Brian Roberts and Jay Gibbons as players linked to performance-enhancing drugs. In the affidavit, which was unsealed Thursday, Grimsley did not name those players. The article also said Grimsley alleged that Miguel Tejada had used steroids. The only mention of Tejada in the affidavit was as part of a conversation with teammates about baseball’s ban on amphetamines. The Times regrets the error.
Topics: Around Baseball |
