Clemens sues ex-trainer for defamation

HOUSTON, Jan. 7 (UPI) -- Former major-league pitcher Roger Clemens filed a lawsuit in Houston charging his former trainer defamed him with allegations of steroid use.

The Houston Chronicle reported Clemens' attorneys filed the lawsuit against Brian McNamee Sunday night electronically in Harris County, Texas, civil courts, just before the CBS "60 Minutes" show aired an interview with Clemens.

McNamee alleged he injected Clemens with steroids and human growth hormones between 1998 and 2001. Clemens' lawsuit claimed McNamee was threatened with jail if he didn't connect the pitcher to steroids.

"All of McNamee's accusations are false and defamatory per se," the Chronicle quoted the lawsuit as saying. "They injured Clemens' reputation and exposed him to public hatred, contempt, ridicule and financial injury. McNamee made the allegations with actual malice, knowing they were false."

Both men are to testify Jan. 16 under oath before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.