Clemens testifies in U.S. probe of drugs in baseball

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Pitching great Roger Clemens, who has denied claims he used performance-enhancing drugs, appeared on Tuesday before U.S. congressional lawyers investigating use of banned substances in baseball.

Clemens went behind closed doors for what was expected to be at least a few hours of sworn testimony in preparation for a hearing next week by the House of Representatives Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

The panel is examining Clemens' dispute with a recent report on performance-enhancing drugs requested by Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig and conducted by former Senate Democratic leader George Mitchell.

The report named more than 80 former and current players, including Clemens, suspected of having used steroids, human growth hormone or other performance-enhancing drugs.

In testifying before committee lawyers, Clemens, 45, planned to reiterate his public denials of claims by his former trainer Brian McNamee that he was injected with steroids and human growth hormone, his attorneys said.

McNamee is to appear before committee attorneys on Thursday. Clemens' former teammate, New York Yankee pitcher Andy Pettitte, gave his sworn deposition on Monday.

During a 24-year career, Clemens amassed a record of 354 wins against 184 loses, earning him acclamation as one of the best pitchers in the history of the game.