WASHINGTON (AFP) — Kirk Radomski, sentenced to six months on probation for steroid distribution, told ESPN he believes Brian McNamee when the fitness trainer says that baseball star Roger Clemens was a dope cheat.
Former New York Mets clubhouse attendant Radomski has admitted supplying performance-enhancing drugs to former policeman McNamee, the ones he says he injected into Clemens, a claim the 45-year-old pitcher has vehemently denied.
The Clemens-McNamee dispute has resulted in sworn depositions ahead of a Wednesday hearing by the House of Representatives Oversight Committee in which US lawmakers will question both men over their accounts with perjury charges and possible prison time awaiting a liar.
"I'm defending Brian," Radomski told ESPN. "I believe him over Clemens and his lawyers. I think he is very believable. He was a cop. He knows the consequences of lying. He has more to lose than to gain by lying.
"If he lies he's in a lot more trouble than just perjury. He opened himself up to so many other counts it's not funny so why would he do what he's doing?"
McNamee was told by federal investigators in the doping scandal that he would be prosecuted only if he was found to be lying. That's when he named Clemens and former teammates Andy Pettitte and Chuck Knoblauch as drug users.
Pettitte has already admitted taking human growth hormone, supporting that much of McNamee's story. But Clemens has fought back, meeting face to face last week with many of the lawmakers who will question him on Wednesday.
Radomski, who led investigators to McNamee as part of his plea agreement, said he knew McNamee, whom he called a friend, wanted the drugs for Major League Baseball clients but never asked for names.
"I knew who his guys were, but I never asked questions. I didn't want to know," Radomski said. "He could have took the stuff and threw it out the window. What do I know?
"But if Brian is saying this stuff then I have to take Brian for his word."
A major reason for his belief, Radomski said, is that McNamee faces more charges if found to be lying.
"Perjury is perjury. You get a couple counts of perjury and knock it down," Radomski said. "What is (McNamee) facing? It's distribution, possession, lying to the government. Brian is looking at a lot more time than anyone else."
Clemens is looking at his legacy as one of baseball's greatest pitchers being shattered should McNamee's claims be proven true.
"Clemens' people want to portray (McNamee) as some lunatic. He's not. That's the wrong move," Radomski said. "I cannot see guys like the US Attorneys office not believing him... If they weren't sure, they wouldn't do what they've done."
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