The news broke yesterday that Brian McNamee (pictured) had given federal prosecutors a smoking gun in the case against Roger Clemens: syringes, vials and gauze pads McNamee claims to have used while injecting Clemens with HGH in 2000 and 2001. Since all of those items are said to contain traces of Clemens' blood and HGH, the evidence should be indisputable, right?Actually, no, not at all. The New York Times spoke with several legal and medical experts who claim that "evidence" doesn't really prove anything.
"You can test to figure out what the substance is, but you cannot figure out how old it is," Dr. Don Catlin, the former director of the Olympic testing lab at U.C.L.A., said in a telephone interview.In other words, the blood could be from the injections of Lidocaine and B-12 that Clemens has admitted to and traces of HGH could have been added later. In addition, Clemens' lawyers would have a field day grilling McNamee about where these items were stored the last seven years. The average fan may have a hard time conjuring up reasons why McNamee would go such lengths to tarnish Clemens, but as Times points out, tracking the chain of custody of evidence is extremely vital in doping cases.
There is no way to date blood either, Catlin said, which means there may not be a conclusive way to establish that the syringes, vials and pads were from 2000 and 2001.
ADVERTISEMENT
_thumbnail.jpg "NASCAR Cowboy Hats")
Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 1)
1. Why wouldn't McNamee destroy the evidence at the time he administered the steroids to avoid having proof against him? He would only keep it if he thought he would have an "Out of Jail" card in case he was investigated for purchasing illegal substances. Even if he kept it in the beginning the statue of limitations would have expired for any criminal activity by now and it would have been easier just to dump out the "evidence." But, if he was involved in illegal drugs and had no way out it seems plausible that he would provide the Feds with a "bigger fish" so he could avoid jail time. How come this evidence just became available in January and not when he originally testified? Now it suddenly appears to corroborate his story? Come on.
Posted at 4:35PM on Feb 7th 2008 by al
2. Who keeps syringes and vials and gauze with blood on it for 7 + years . A former NYC cop hmmm .He sure would know how to plant evidence after the fact .Probably why he's a "former " NYC cop .If he had this evidence all along as he contends why the weepy "what do you want me to do " phone call ? Whats next a bloody glove found at the crime scene
Posted at 5:51PM on Feb 7th 2008 by JACKSTER1221
3. macnamee is look worse and worse every day either that or his lawyers suck to high heaven
Posted at 5:54PM on Feb 7th 2008 by jim
4. THIS WHOLE THREE-RING CIRCUS IS COMPRISED OF A BUNCH OF LOSERS WHO ARE SEARCHING FOR THAT 15 MINUTES OF FAME.ROGER CLEMENS IS AN IDIOT FOR ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THEY EVEN EXIST.HE OWES NO ONE AN EXPLANATION ESPECIALLY THOSE BOZOS IN CONGRESS
Posted at 7:29PM on Feb 7th 2008 by GMBUMPER
5. chain of custody is so bad on those needles and stuff theres no way it can be proven macnamee could have doctored them to look that way
Posted at 8:12PM on Feb 7th 2008 by jim
6. Not relevant? Geez, what is this going to turn out to be, OJ II? Yup, and I told my boss that I couldn't come in today cause my girlfriend, Pamela Anderson, wouldn't let me out of bed. Yeah, right!
Posted at 8:56PM on Feb 7th 2008 by Mike
7. I think McNamee kept the needles to plea bargain if he ever got caught selling performance enhancers. But it does remain to be seen whether or not Clemens' blood is on the needles or not. And it remains to be seen whether or not Clemens' fingerprints are on the HGH that he allegedly didn't want to take through the Houston airport. I don't think Clemens and his lawyers getting angry and parading around Congress reflects confidence the way that McNamee's lawyers being relaxed and friendly does. With the legal system we have, the truth may not be known for a long, long time.
Posted at 9:30PM on Feb 7th 2008 by dave
8. I explained this in a previous post! Shouldn't take a rocket scientist to convince you Matt.
Posted at 10:37PM on Feb 7th 2008 by NeonDon
9. No one goes to a trainer for an injection that the team doctor can give. You only have a trainer inject something that you didn't get from a doctor.
Posted at 1:12AM on Feb 8th 2008 by LB