updated 8:14 p.m. ET Aug. 12, 2005

Documents about Rafael Palmeiro’s failed drug test were turned over to Congress by Major League Baseball on Friday, information that will be used to determine whether to pursue a perjury charge against the Baltimore Orioles slugger.

The House Government Reform Committee wants to know whether Palmeiro lied in March when he testified under oath that he had never used steroids.

He was suspended for 10 days by baseball on Aug. 1 after a positive steroids test. The next day, Palmeiro agreed in a telephone conversation with Government Reform Committee chairman Tom Davis, R-Va., to let baseball release information requested by the panel.

Davis and the committee’s ranking Democrat, Henry Waxman of California, submitted to baseball a list of what they wanted, including the timeline of Palmeiro’s case, the substance for which he tested positive, and details about any previous drug tests taken by the player.

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“Major League Baseball has complied with the Government Reform Committee’s request to produce all documents related to Rafael Palmeiro’s positive steroid test,” Davis and Waxman said in a joint statement Friday. “The Committee will shortly begin its review and will not have further comment until that review is complete.”

Palmeiro returned from his suspension Thursday, but didn’t play in the Orioles’ 4-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

Upon beginning his suspension, Palmeiro contended that he never intentionally took steroids. Speaking Friday afternoon before Baltimore’s game against Toronto, he said he was glad to see Congress begin work on his case.

“I’m happy that it’s started,” he said, “and hopefully it will be over soon.”

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