Congress to look at Sosa testimony

WASHINGTON, June 17 (UPI) -- A congressional committee has decided to review the 2003 testimony by former slugger Sammy Sosa on his use of performance-enhancing drugs.

Sosa told the Oversight and Government Reform Committee that he never used steroids, but a New York Times report on Tuesday said he tested positive in 2003, two years before he appeared before Congress and said he had never taken performance-enhancing drugs while a player.

"This committee heard sworn testimony from Mr. Sosa in 2005 when he stated that he had not previously used performance-enhancing drugs," said Rep. Edolphus Towns (D-NY). "(This ) committee always takes seriously suggestions that a witness misled the committee while testifying under oath."

Sosa, 40, was engaged in a friendly battle with Mark McGwire for the single-season major league home run record of Roger Maris.

In 18 seasons, Sosa hit 609 homers, and ranks sixth on the all-time list -- 23 ahead of Hall-of-Famer Frank Robinson and eight behind Seattle slugger Ken Griffey Jr.