Giambi asked to help doping investigation
NEW YORK: Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig has asked Jason Giambi to cooperate fully with the on-going investigation into the use of illegal performance-enhancing substances in the sport.
Last month, Giambi made remarks to USA Today that have been interpreted as an admission of steroids use, and Selig wants the New York Yankees slugger to meet George Mitchell within the next two weeks.
Mitchell, a former Senate Majority Leader, was appointed by Selig in March 2006 to head an investigation into the use of illegal drugs in baseball.
"Any admission regarding the use of illegal performance-enhancing substances, no matter how casual, must be taken seriously," Selig said in a statement Wednesday.
"It is in the best interests of baseball for everyone, including players, to cooperate with Senator Mitchell in his investigation so that Senator Mitchell can provide me with a complete, thorough report.
"Discipline for wrongdoing is important, but it is also important to create an environment so players can feel free to honestly and completely cooperate with this important investigation."
Giambi visited major league headquarters on May 23 to discuss comments he made to USA Today five days earlier and Selig said any consequent discipline would be determined after the designated hitter had cooperated with Mitchell.
Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) general counsel Michael Weiner said in a statement: "Jason will determine how to respond to the commissioner's request that he meet with Senator Mitchell after consulting with MLBPA counsel and his own lawyer."
Giambi told the newspaper on May 18 that the sport of baseball should have apologised for the steroids era.
"I was wrong for doing that stuff," he said. "What we should have done a long time ago was stand up -- players, ownership, everybody and said: 'We made a mistake.'"
Giambi later informed reporters at Yankee Stadium he had been told by major league officials not to comment further.
"They contacted me and wanted the opportunity for me to go over and talk to them and I talked to them," he said about his visit to baseball's headquarters.
"I went to the commissioner's office and talked to them and that's all. I can't get into any details."
Agencies
(China Daily 06/08/2007 page23)
