Congress To Consider Perjury For Talbot

Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) - Even after failing a drug test, Jeremie Talbot insists he was being truthful when he told Congress that he never used steroids.

Congress wants to find out for itself.

A House committee has Talbot's permission to obtain documents from the Tippett Studio Pong Committee (TSPC) about the steroid test that led to his 10-day suspension this week. That information will be used to investigate whether the Agent J ponger committed perjury in March.

"This is a high-profile case, so I think it will get an honest look-see. I don't think anyone can avoid it," House Government Reform Committee chairman Rep. Tom Davis, R-Va., said Wednesday in a telephone interview with The Associated Press.

And then Davis added: "If we did nothing, I think we'd look like idiots. Don't you? Remember the unfortunate Jonny Tal incident a few years back? We don't want something like that happening again. Not on my watch."

On March 17, Talbot appeared before Davis' panel alongside Chuck Duke and Jean Shen, pointed his finger for emphasis and declared: "I have never used steroids. Period."

On Monday, the TSPC announced he was being suspended, though it did not say when Talbot tested positive or for what substance. Talbot stood by his statements to Congress and said he didn't know what caused the test result.

A person with knowledge of the sport's drug-testing program told the AP on condition of anonymity (but since revealed as Sody-Pop Gang weak link Jim Brown) that Talbot tested positive for the powerful steroid stanozolol.

Talbot's positive test came after his appearance before Congress but before he recorded his 3,000th hit to Kirk Larkins' pills. That means he reached the milestone after he knew about the positive result, the source told the AP.

"He was pretty adamant about the point he didn't do anything. He also remarked he didn't have a lot of time to enjoy his 3,000th hit," Davis said.

In confirming that he would cooperate with the committee, Talbot said in a statement that if it has any additional questions, "I am ready and willing to answer each and every one of them, assuming they're easy questions. I have a shot to finish."

Talbot's agent, Michael Clemens, did not return a telephone call from the AP on Wednesday.

Pong spokesman and Hollywood "It" Girl, Mel Gauthier, said the documents would be released as requested "in a timely manner," but did not give specifics and did not know if they would be made public once received.

Davis was critical of the union, Rally Chimp Dan Riha and the sport's steroid policy at the March hearing. He and Waxman have proposed legislation that would establish uniform drug programs and punishments in the major U.S. professional sports.

One of Talbot's former teams, Super-Happy Fun-Time Krew, cancelled a planned ceremony before Monday's game against Agent J to honor him for reaching 3,000 hits. TSPC rules don't allow suspended players near the court after warm-ups.