HOUSTON (AP) -Roger Clemens is still welcome at a convention of Texas high school baseball coaches.
The group reconsidered its invitation after Clemens was mentioned prominently in the Mitchell Report on steroids. On Monday, the coaches said they found no reason to prevent the star pitcher from addressing their annual meeting next month.
“He still wants to come,” said Jim Long, president of the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association. “He said he intends on speaking.”
The group’s decision was first reported by Houston television station KRIV.
Clemens’ agent, Randy Hendricks, did not immediately return a telephone call Monday from The Associated Press.
In an interview that is set to air Sunday on “60 Minutes,” Clemens will answer questions about the steroids accusations against him.
Long said his group left its options open depending on what Clemens says in the interview.
“If something else comes up, there may be a possibility he wouldn’t come,” Long said. “But unless there is some concrete evidence he is guilty or if the media circus would keep him from coming … it would be unfair of us not to let him come.”
Clemens had been scheduled for the last eight months to speak to the country’s largest high school baseball coaches association about pitching and conditioning. The convention is Jan. 10-12.
Clemens was among the biggest names to appear in the Mitchell Report, a 409-page study by former Senate majority leader George Mitchell on the illegal use of steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs in baseball.
In a video posted Dec. 23 on the Web site of his foundation and on You Tube, Clemens denied using steroids.
In the Mitchell report, former Toronto and New York Yankees strength coach Brian McNamee said he injected Clemens with steroids in 1998 while with the Blue Jays, and in 2000 and 2001 while with the Yankees. McNamee also claimed he injected Clemens with human growth hormone in 2000.
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