Clemens: 'I have never taken steroids'

Washington -- Pitcher Roger Clemens testified he never used performance-enhancing drugs, contradicting testimony of former teammate Andy Pettitte and a former trainer.

"I have never taken steroids or (human growth hormone)," Clemens told the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Wednesday in his opening statement. "I have been accused of something I am not guilty of."

Committee Chairman Rep. Harry Waxman, D-Calif., said the hearing focused on the accuracy of information former Major League Baseball trainer Brian McNamee provided former Sen. George Mitchell, D-Maine, in his investigation about the use of steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs in baseball.

In a sworn affidavit, Pettitte said he recalled a conversation with Clemens in which Clemens said he used HGH. In a later conversation, Pettitte said in the affidavit that Clemens told him that Clemens' wife was injected.

"I think Andy has misheard ... (comments) about my using HGH because that never happened," the seven-time Cy Young pitching ace said when questioned about the affidavit by Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md.

Saying he knows his actions were wrong, McNamee told the committee, "I have helped taint our national pastime."

Copyright 2008 by United Press International.