Attorney says Clemens has been 'slandered'

Dec 14,2007 00:00 by UPI

NEW YORK -- The attorney for superstar pitcher Roger Clemens said Thursday his client had been "slandered" by baseball's investigation into steroid use.

MITCHELL REPORT NAMES STAR PLAYERS IN NEW YORK - New York Yankees starting pitcher Roger Clemens was named in the long-awaited Mitchell report linking him to performance-enhancing drugs during press conference in New York On December 13, 2007. New York Yankees starting pitcher Roger Clemens reacts after walking a batter in the first inning against the Cleveland Indians during game 3 of the ALDS against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium in New York City on October 7, 2007. (UPI Photo/John Angelillo/Files)

Clemens' name was one of those included in the report issued Thursday by former Sen. George Mitchell, D-Maine. Most of the data concerning Clemens in the report came from one-time New York Yankees conditioning coach Brian McNamee.

In a statement released through attorney Rusty Hardin, Clemens denied using performance-enhancing drugs.

"I have great respect for Sen. Mitchell," Hardin said in the statement. "I think an overall look at this problem in baseball was an excellent idea.

"But I respectfully suggest it is very unfair to include Roger's name in this report. He is left with no meaningful way to combat what he strongly contends are totally false allegations. He has not been charged with anything, he will not be charged with anything and yet he is being tried in the court of public opinion with no recourse. That is totally wrong.

"There has never been one shred of tangible evidence that he ever used these substances and yet he is being slandered today."

Mitchell said most players contacted by investigators refused requests to meet with Mitchell to confront the allegations against them.