Grimsley appears at Clemens grand jury courthouse

[August 12, 2009]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- Former pitcher Jason Grimsley, a key figure in the federal investigation of steroids in baseball, met with prosecutors Tuesday at the courthouse where a grand jury is looking into whether Roger Clemens lied to Congress.

A former Houston-area gym owner also was at the federal courthouse, giving testimony in the probe into whether Clemens misled a congressional committee last year when the seven-time Cy Young Award winner denied under oath using steroids or human growth hormone.

Grimsley and his lawyer, Edward Novak, did not comment after spending a little more than an hour meeting with prosecutors. Grimsley's agent, Joe Bick, said Grimsley did not give formal testimony and this was the 15-year major leaguer's first involvement with the current investigation.

"It was just a meeting," Bick said. "He called me and told me he was going to be meeting with some people."

Shortly after lunch, ex-bodybuilder and former gym owner Kelly Blair spent some 90 minutes testifying before the grand jury. Blair said previously that he used to take steroids himself and once provided Andy Pettitte's father with HGH for medical reasons, but he has denied supplying Clemens or any professional athletes with the substances.

Asked what he told the grand jury, Blair said: "Nothing that hadn't already been said. I'm just glad to be finished with all this and looking forward to just getting on with my life."

Blair blames the publicity surrounding the case for ruining his gym business. He is considering filing for bankruptcy.

"I've made it clear from the very beginning, and I stand by what I said," Blair said. "But I do have to respect the process and let them do their job from here on out, and I'm just looking forward to going home and just trying to get back my reputation."

Grimsley pitched for seven major league teams from 1989-06, and federal agents searched his home in Scottsdale, Ariz., in June 2006. In a statement that year, IRS Special Agent Jeff Novitzky said Grimsley implicated nine players -- including Jose Canseco, Lenny Dykstra and Rafael Palmeiro -- in doping. Clemens was not among the players named by Grimsley.

According to Novitzky's affidavit, Grimsley said he had been referred to an amphetamine source by former New York Yankees strength coach Brian McNamee.

McNamee has told federal investigators and Congress that he injected Clemens more than a dozen times with steroids and HGH from 1998-01.

Bick said he did not think Grimsley would be returning to testify before the grand jury.

"I would anticipate that his exposure in the thing is over with," Bick said.

Blair's appearance came one day after he filed a defamation lawsuit against the authors of a book about the Clemens saga. The suit says the book, "American Icon: The Fall of Roger Clemens and the Rise of Steroids in America's Pastime," falsely links Blair to an "underground steroid network" and falsely claims that Blair used his gym as a front for selling drugs.

A week after saying he planned to appear before the grand jury without an attorney, Blair arrived Tuesday with two lawyers -- one to advise him on his testimony, and one who is representing him in the civil suit.

"Probably thought it'd be fun to bring these guys along," Blair said. "And it was."

McNamee has told federal investigators and Congress that he injected Clemens more than a dozen times with steroids and HGH from 1998-01.

Bick said he did not think Grimsley would be returning to testify before the grand jury.

"I would anticipate that his exposure in the thing is over with," Bick said.

Blair's appearance came one day after he filed a defamation lawsuit against the authors of a book about the Clemens saga. The suit says the book, "American Icon: The Fall of Roger Clemens and the Rise of Steroids in America's Pastime," falsely links Blair to an "underground steroid network" and falsely claims that Blair used his gym as a front for selling drugs.

A week after saying he planned to appear before the grand jury without an attorney, Blair arrived Tuesday with two lawyers -- one to advise him on his testimony, and one who is representing him in the civil suit.

"Probably thought it'd be fun to bring these guys along," Blair said. "And it was."

[Associated Press; By JOSEPH WHITE]

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