Investigations against Mark McGwire for steroid use

The retired slugger, Mark McGwire, has refused to identify players participating in Major League baseball making use of steroids.

McGwire, one of six current and former stars appearing before the House Government Reform Committee, however did not say if he had made use of steroids himself.

From News.bbc.co.uk:

McGwire, who ranks sixth in Major League history with 583 home runs, said: "Steroids are wrong. Don't take them. It gives you nothing but false hope.

"What I will not do, however, is participate in naming names and implicating my friends and teammates."

Former batter Canseco wrote a best-selling book which claimed steroids were rampant in baseball. In it he wrote that he injected McGwire.

However, Canseco told the hearing he could not fully answer its questions because of concerns his testimony could be used against him.

Earlier, US Senator Jim Bunning, a major league player for 17 years, said: "Baseball needs to know we are watching.

"They owe it to all of us to prove they are fixing this terrible problem. If not, we will have to do it for them."

Henry Waxman, Committee ranking minority member, remarked that the baseball league has failed to honor trust and has not acted in a responsible manner to protect ball players.