Gloves off at US baseball hearing

Mr Clemens, right, sat just inches away from his accuser Mr McNamee

There have been angry clashes in a congressional hearing as US baseball star Roger Clemens defended himself against charges of drug abuse.

Mr Clemens, who denies the claims he used performance-enhancing drugs, faced a grilling from sceptical lawmakers in the House Oversight Committee.

His chief accuser, his former trainer Brian McNamee, sat close by during the hearing but they avoided eye contact.

"Both can't be telling the truth," said senior Republican Tom Davis.

The hearing follows the publication of the Mitchell report in December, which named more than 80 Major League players in connection with doping.

Mr Clemens - who won 354 games during his 24-year career, and is regarded as one of the sport's all-time great pitchers - was one of the biggest names in the report.

Both Mr Clemens and Mr McNamee testified under oath, and either could face up to five years in jail if they are found to have lied to Congress.

Multiple claims

Mr McNamee told the committee he had "injected those drugs into the body of Roger Clemens at his direction.

"I now believe that the number of times I injected Roger Clemens was actually greater than I initially stated," he said.

You're one of my heroes, but [your testimony is] hard to believe Representative Elijah Cummings Q&A: Anabolic steroids

Mr McNamee claimed to have injected Mr Clemens with steroids and human growth hormone (HGH) at least 16 times between 1998 and 2001.

His former teammate and close friend Andy Pettitte - also under investigation for doping - has backed the claims, saying Mr Clemens admitted his drug use to him.

The charges were repeatedly denied by Mr Clemens, who says he was injected, but with vitamin B12 and the painkiller licodaine, both of which are legal.

"I've never used steroids, human growth hormone or any other type of illegal performance-enhancing drugs," he told lawmakers.

"The suggestion I'd use steroids or other illegal drugs is totally incompatible with who I am or what I stand for."

Inconsistencies

But Mr Clemens, who mispronounced names and stumbled over words at times during the four-and-a-half-hour testimony, failed to convince all of his interrogators.

Clemens was one of the best-known figures in the game

"It's hard to believe you, sir. I hate to say that," said Representative Elijah Cummings, a Democrat.

"You're one of my heroes, but it's hard to believe."

Mr McNamee, meanwhile, offered an apology for his conduct, saying he had "helped taint our national pastime".

But inconsistencies in his own account of events were also highlighted, with Representative Dan Burton, a Republican, accusing him of "lie after lie after lie after lie".

"Someone is lying in spectacular fashion about the ultimate question," said Representative Davis.

"We will let the American people judge who is to be believed in this unfortunate battle of wills, memories and reputations."