Houston-area gym owner sues Clemens book’s authors

HOUSTON (AP)—A former gym owner has sued the authors of a book that details the alleged use of performance-enhancing drugs by pitcher Roger Clemens(notes).

Kelly Blair claimed in a defamation lawsuit filed Monday in Harris County that the authors falsely accused him of being a steroids dealer in an underground network.

Blair also claimed his gym, 1-on-1 Elite Personal Fitness, was falsely labeled a front for illegal drug sales in the book, “American Icon: The Fall of Roger Clemens and the Rise of Steroids in America’s Pastime.”

Blair, of the Houston suburb of Deer Park, also sued one of the book’s sources. Blair says he was falsely accused of preparing drugs for shipments to major league players, including Clemens and Andy Pettitte(notes).

The book’s publisher, Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.