MADISON, Wis. (AP) – Baseball commissioner Bud Selig is still reviewing cases of players accused of taking performance-enhancing drugs outlined in the Mitchell Report.
Selig initially hoped to complete his review by spring training. On Monday, he said he does not know when he will finish or what punishment he’ll pursue.
Selig declined to comment on the congressional hearing last week when Roger Clemens denied using performance-enhancing drugs.
“I don’t want to respond to what players have or haven’t said,” Selig said.
The 409-page Mitchell Report was released Dec. 13. Selig said he was examining the cases one-by-one.
“I’m still in that process,” Selig said.
Selig’s comments came at the same time New York Yankees pitcher Andy Pettitte held a news conference in Tampa, Fla., during which he apologized for taking human growth hormone. Pettitte signed a sworn statement implicating Clemens as an HGH user.
Milwaukee Brewers reliever Eric Gagne, identified in the report as having used HGH, also issued a general apology Monday for “a distraction that shouldn’t be taking place.”
However, the 32-year-old closer declined to answer questions and didn’t address the specific accusations against him.
The report by former Senate majority leader George Mitchell linked more than 80 players to drug use. Selig defended baseball’s efforts, saying the game had the “toughest drug testing program in American sports.”
Selig noted that amphetamines are banned and a joint study with the NFL is under way to find a reliable test for HGH.
“Given everything that’s happened, I think this sport has come a long way,” Selig said. “We have made enormous progress.”
Selig said the sport was poised to attract more than 81 million fans this year and that fans understand the drug problem is being addressed.
“People will say they had a problem, but they did something about it,” Selig said.
The commissioner was at the University of Wisconsin to speak with history students. He graduated from the university in 1956 with a history degree.
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