THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON - Roger Clemens spoke under oath for about five hours to congressional lawyers Tuesday, then said he told them he did not use performance-enhancing drugs.
"I just want to thank the committee, the staff that I just met with. They were very courteous," Clemens said after emerging from the offices of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
"It was great to be able to tell them what I've been saying all along - that I've never used steroids or growth hormone," the seven-time Cy Young Award winner said.
Clemens, wearing a pinstriped gray suit instead of a pinstriped New York Yankees uniform, did not take questions from reporters. Carrying a black briefcase and accompanied by two attorneys, Clemens headed to an elevator to exit the Rayburn House Office Building.
Someone down the marble hallway yelled out the pitcher's nickname, "Rocket!" That drew a quick wave of a hand from Clemens as he stepped into the wood-paneled elevator.
The 45-year-old pitcher ranks eighth in major league history with 354 career wins. He put off retirement yet again in 2007, returning to the Yankees in June and going 6-6 with a 4.18 ERA.