Banned Substances Found on Materials Linked to Clemens

The New York Times is reporting that federal investigators on the Roger Clemens perjury case have found performance-enhancing substances on syringes, gauze pads and other drug paraphenalia provided to them by Brian McNamee. That implicates Clemens as a drug user and perjurer, because the same investigators earlier found Clemens' DNA on the materials provided by McNamee.

Clemens' team wasn't surprised to learn that there were drugs on the materials.

“Duh,” said Clemens' attorney Rusty Hardin. “Do you really think McNamee was going to fabricate this stuff and not make sure there were substances on there? The fact is Roger never used steroids or H.G.H.”

It's impossible to prove anything outside of the fact that these syringes have Clemens' DNA and performance-enhancing drugs on them. You can't authenticate the date that they were used, if they were used by Clemens to inject steroids or anything else resembling a smoking gun. It's evidence, to be sure, but what it is evidence of is in the eye of the beholder.

If you believe Clemens used drugs, this merely reinforces that belief. If you believe that McNamee has it in for Clemens, however, it reinforces that belief.

There's nothing illuminating about this evidence, which means that the entire case, as of now, comes down to he said, he said. The most powerful ammunition that the prosecution has on that front is Andy Pettitte's testimony because, unlike Clemens and McNamee, he's got no dog in the race.

Josh Alper is a writer living in New York City and is a contributor to FanHouse.com and ProFootballTalk.com in addition to his duties for NBCNewYork.com.

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