updated 2:45 p.m. ET Oct. 5, 2005

NEW YORK - Two-time AL MVP Juan Gonzalez says he told congressional investigators Tuesday that he thinks former teammate Rafael Palmeiro “has always been clean.”

A release issued by Gonzalez’s agent, Alan Nero, said Gonzalez spoke by telephone to lawyers from the House Government Reform Committee about Palmeiro and answered all of their questions.

Palmeiro was suspended Aug. 1 by Major League Baseball for failing a drug test. Congress is looking into whether he committed perjury when he testified under oath in March before the Government Reform Committee and said he “never used steroids. Period.”

Committee investigators have been speaking to Palmeiro’s current or former teammates and workout partners, including Colorado outfielder Jorge Piedra, the second player publicly identified under the sport’s new steroid rules when he was suspended for 10 days in April.

Gonzalez and Palmeiro played together for the Texas Rangers from 1989-93 and in 1999.

“I told the committee that I have never seen Raffy use steroids,” Gonzalez said. “In our time playing together, I never even heard any rumors that he was using steroids. So far as I know, and believe, Raffy has always been clean.”

Slide show   The Week in Sports Pictures Fireworks, crash landings, Wimbledon theatrics and more. more photos

Gonzalez, the AL MVP in 1996 and 1998, is now with the Cleveland Indians, but he tore a hamstring muscle in his only at-bat this season.

Jose Canseco wrote in his book “Juiced” that he introduced steroids to Texas teammates, including Palmeiro and Gonzalez. Asked in February about the book and its allegations, Gonzalez said: “It’s not true. ... I never saw needles. I never saw pills. I never saw anything. ... The only guys who have put needles in my body are doctors.”

Calls to Nero and a committee spokesman after office hours Tuesday night were not immediately returned.

MORE FROM BASEBALL

Baseball Section Front

Nomar cheered in Fenway return as A’s win   Phillies score 10 in first on way to 22-1 rout Yankees’ rally falls short, just miss Jays sweep Jeter ‘didn’t have to be tagged,’ ump says Live updates on Monday's baseball games Special feature: MLB’s midseason report   Big Unit goes on DL with injured shoulder Rangers activate Hamilton from DL Chicago family buying Cubs for about $900 M MLB blog: Manny may get rough reception in N.Y. Baseball Section Front   Add Baseball headlines to your news reader: