Baseball notebook: Congress announces steroid, HGH inquiry
Congress announced plans Tuesday to review the use of performance-enhancing drugs, with star-studded hearings scheduled next month and legislation to limit access to steroids and human growth hormone.
Two House panels are planning mid-January hearings featuring former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell, author of a bombshell report last week that linked more than 80 baseball players to the illegal use of steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs. Players, likely some of those named in the report, could be invited to testify.
Meanwhile, a Senate Republican and Democrat announced legislation to limit access to performance-enhancing substances and stiffen criminal penalties for abuse and distribution.
Clemens says he’s innocent
Roger Clemens denied allegations by his former trainer that he took performance-enhancing drugs, calling them “a dangerous and destructive shortcut that no athlete should ever take.”
The Mitchell Report said the seven-time Cy Young Award winner used steroids in 1998 while with the Blue Jays, and steroids and HGH in 2000 and 2001, while with the Yankees.
“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.
Selig defends baseball
Commissioner Bud Selig defended baseball’s drug-testing program in the wake of the Mitchell Report.
“I’m proud of where we are,” Selig said. “We have the toughest testing program in American sports. We banned amphetamines, which were a problem in our sport for seven or eight decades.”
Clearing the bases
Desperate to bolster their rotation, the Seattle Mariners are closing in on a deal with pitcher Carlos Silva, one of the top arms in a weak free-agent market. The 28-year-old right-hander was 13-14 last season with a 4.19 ERA for Minnesota. … Baltimore second baseman Brian Roberts has acknowledged using steroids, but insists he only tried it once before realizing he had made a “terrible decision” during the 2003 season … San Diego and Tadahito Iguchi finalized their $3.85 million, one-year contract. … A woman’s request for a restraining order against Washington outfielder Elijah Dukes was dismissed after she failed to show for a hearing at Tampa, Fla. … New York Yankees traveling secretary David Szen pleaded guilty in federal court at New Haven, Conn., to filing a false tax return and admitted he failed to report more than $50,000 in tips from players and coaches. … Former Mariners reliever Julio Mateo pleaded guilty to charges of beating his wife in a Manhattan hotel. … Don Chevrier, a longtime broadcaster who called the Toronto Blue Jays’ first game, has died at Toronto. He was 69. … The Chicago Cubs announced that Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg will return as manager of Class A Peoria (Ill.)