Top > Sport > 2005 > September > 2005-09-20

Congress wonders if Palmeiro purjured himself

Congressional investigators looking into whether Rafael Palmeiro lied under oath are interviewing players who know him, including a Colorado outfielder suspended this year for steroids. Palmeiro testified to the House Government Reform Committee in March that he never had used steroids. The Baltimore Orioles slugger, one of four players in history with 3,000 hits and 500 homers, was suspended by Major League Baseball for 10 days in August for failing a drug test.

On March 17, Palmeiro appeared before the Government Reform Committee alongside Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa, pointed his finger for emphasis and declared: ",I have never used steroids. Period.", On August 1, baseball announced his suspension. Palmeiro stood by his statements to Congress, saying he didn`t know what caused the test result.

When he returned to the Orioles after his ban, Palmeiro said he would not speak about the case until Congress concludes its perjury investigation. Palmeiro has not been interviewed by the committee since he was suspended, but he did agree to allow Major League Baseball to turn over his test results and other documents to Congress, and the committee has praised him for being cooperative.