Drugs in Sport: Roger Clemens and his former trainer, Brian McNamee, clashed under oath at a US congressional hearing today over McNamee's claims he injected Clemens with illegal performance-enhancing drugs.
Sitting together at a witness table but avoiding eye contact, Clemens again denied ever taking such substances, and McNamee insisted he did - while lawmakers questioned the veracity of both of them.
"I have never used steroids, human growth hormone or any other type of illegal performance-enhancing drugs," Clemens said.
Allegations he did use them were first made by McNamee in an investigative report requested by Major League Baseball and conducted by George Mitchell.
McNamee, a former police officer, testified, "When I told Senator Mitchell that I injected Roger Clemens with performance-enhancing drugs, I told the truth."
McNamee said he injected Clemens with steroids and human growth hormone, between 1998 and 2001.
The stakes at the nationally televised hearing were high. If either Clemens or McNamee is found to have lied to Congress, they could face up to five years in prison.
Clemens' reputation as one of the greatest pitchers ever is also on the line, while McNamee faces a defamation of character lawsuit filed by his former client.