Pasadena Trainer Questioned In Clemens Investigation

Prosecutors looking for evidence that former pitcher Roger Clemens lied to Congress about steroid usage questioned a former Pasadena personal trainer linked to human growth hormone used by Andy Pettitte, a former teammate and a friend of Clemens.

The lawyer for Kelly Blair, who ran a gym named 1-on-1 Elite Personal Fitness, declined to reveal the specific questions asked or answers given during the session with a federal grand jury in Washington.

“I don't see what they were hoping to get out of (Blair),” said attorney Jason Gibson. “But they needed sworn statements in front of the grand jury as part of their investigation.”

Blair, 39, has repeatedly denied any connection to Clemens or knowledge of whether the perennial all-star ever used illegal performance-enhancing drugs. Asked what he told the grand jury, Blair said: “Nothing that hadn't already been said. I'm just glad to be finished with all this and looking forward to just getting on with my life.”

Blair blames the publicity surrounding the case for ruining his gym business. He said he is considering filing for bankruptcy.

“I've made it clear from the very beginning, and I stand by what I said,” Blair said. “But I do have to respect the process and let them do their job from here on out, and I'm just looking forward to going home and just trying to get back my reputation.”

Pettitte's Connection

He has admitted his own past steroid use but has denied passing HGH along to anyone, including customer Tommy Pettitte, Andy Pettitte's father. Last month Blair did acknowledge introducing a member of Pettitte's family to someone at his gym who had a prescription for HGH — in effect serving as a broker for a potential transaction of what he said was a small amount, “a couple of bottles.” Blair said he was not told that the hormone would be passed on to the pitcher.

Andy Pettitte said in a deposition that he used HGH while battling elbow problems in 2004 and that he obtained it from his father, who had gotten it from the trainer at the gym where he worked out. Andy Pettitte's brother-in-law is married to Blair's sister.

Gibson said he, attorney Chip Lewis and Blair met Tuesday with prosecutors and got no impression that Blair was of interest to them as anything but a witness.

“They are in no way looking at Kelly Blair,” he said.

Blair filed a defamation lawsuit Monday in Houston against the publisher and authors of a book about Clemens that was published in May. In it, the authors, relying on a confidential source, paint Blair as a steroids “pusher” whose gym was part of an underground distribution network. Blair claims the assertions are false and that they caused his business to close.
 

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