A dispute over Roger Clemens’ medical history may play a key role in determining who is more credible – Clemens or his former trainer, Brian McNamee.
McNamee alleges that Clemens developed an abscess on his buttocks in 1998, near the same time he says he injected Clemens with steroids. It is common for steroid users to develop abscesses from injections.
Clemens’ attorney disputes the existence of this abscess and said he has spoken to several people who were members of the Blue Jays organization at the time who say McNamee’s claims are untrue.
“Mr. McNamee has come forth with yet another allegation that is unsubstantiated,” Clemens’ attorney, Rusty Hardin, said last night in an e-mail. “Roger does not recall suffering from such an abscess. In addition we have now talked with two trainers who worked with him on the Blue Jays and a massage therapist who has worked with him for nearly his entire professional career. None of these individuals has any memory of noticing what Mr. McNamee claims to have seen.”
McNamee made the allegation on Dec. 12 to private investigators hired by Clemens. That led Clemens’ camp to try and verify the claims. McNamee’s lead lawyer, Earl Ward, would not say whether McNamee told federal investigators or former Sen. George Mitchell about the abscess, but acknowledged it could add to McNamee’s credibility.
“If it’s confirmed through speaking to folks in Toronto, it will confirm his story,” Ward said.
But that may be a problem for McNamee. The Toronto Star quoted former Blue Jays general manager Gord Ash, trainer Tommy Craig and catcher Darrin Fletcher in the last week saying they saw no signs of steroid use in Clemens.
McNamee told federal investigators and Mitchell he injected Clemens with steroids and human growth hormone 16 times between 1998 and 2001 when he worked for the Blue Jays and Yankees. Clemens has vehemently denied these charges.
Both men have been invited to testify before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on Feb. 13.
Clemens filed a defamation lawsuit against McNamee on Sunday. McNamee’s lawyers expect Clemens to attack their client’s credibility. But they believe Clemens’ lawyers should look at their own client first.
“Part of the investigation they should look at is this issue of the abscess instead of investigating Brian’s character if they really want to get the truth,” Ward said.