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NEW YORK - Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling has called on Roger Clemens to give up four of his Cy Young baseball awards if he cannot clear his name after allegations in the Mitchell report that he used steroids.
While Clemens has denied allegations detailed by former senator George Mitchell's report into doping in Major League Baseball, Schilling says he believes Clemens must take legal action to prove his innocence.
"Roger has denied every allegation brought to the table," Clemens wrote.
"So, as a fan, my thought is that Roger will find a way in short order to organise a legal team to guarantee a retraction of the allegations made, a public apology is made, and his name is completely cleared.
"If he doesn't do that then there aren't many options as a fan for me other than to believe his career 192 wins and three Cy Youngs he won prior to 1997 were the end.
"From that point on the numbers were attained through using PEDs (performance enhancing drugs) ... if that is the case with Roger, the four Cy Youngs should go to the rightful winners and the numbers should go away if he cannot refute the accusations."
Clemens, 45, who was 6-6 last season for the Yankees after joining them midway through the campaign, has won seven Cy Young awards overall as best pitcher in his league and has a career total of 354 wins, eighth on the all-time list.
Schilling, 41, a 20-year veteran, has compiled 216 career wins and claimed Most Valuable Player honours from the 2001 World Series and from the 1993 National League Championship Series.
- REUTERS
