By Matt Sepic, KWMU
St. Louis – Former Cardinals slugger Mark McGwire told a congressional committee today that he would not name names in a federal investigation of steroid use in Major League Baseball.
He and five other past and present ballplayers were subpoenaed to testify before the House Government Reform Committee.
McGwire's former Oakland A's teammate Jose Canseco claims in a new book that he injected McGwire with steroids.
In his opening statement Thursday, McGwire criticized Canseco, but did not confirm or deny that he used steroids.
"I've been advised that my testimony here could harm friends and respected teammates, or that some ambitious prosecutor could use convicted criminals who would do and say anything to solve their own problems," McGwire said.
McGwire also said he would use his charitable foundation to dissuade young people from using performance enhancing drugs.