Wife injected herself with HGH: Clemens

Debbie Clemens never pitched in a baseball game or performed at a rap concert, yet that didn't stop her from trying the performance-enhancer of choice among some athletes and musicians.

That strange revelation might have been the strangest in a day full of them, as her husband, seven-time Cy Young Award-winning pitcher Roger Clemens, appeared before Congress on Wednesday to deny charges by his former personal trainer that he used human growth hormone and steroids numerous times from 1998 to 2001.

Clemens and his accuser, Brian McNamee, clashed about every detail of the incident.

Clemens read a statement from his wife contending that McNamee touted its benefit during a visit to the family's Houston home, then provided the HGH and she injected herself.

McNamee said he gave her the shot at Clemens' direction.

Debbie Clemens sat impassively behind her husband during the hearing and didn't speak.

But Clemens read a statement his wife had prepared.

"She had been broken up over this a long time," he said. "She said she feels like a pawn in [McNamee's] game."

McNamee previously told investigators that he injected Debbie Clemens before the couple posed for a 2003 Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition photo shoot.

According to his statement, she suffered circulation difficulties the same night and the day afterward, but did not seek medical attention.

"Roger said, 'Let's back off this, we need to know more, and she agreed.'"