Andy Pettitte apologizes for using HGH

New York Yankees Andy Pettitte spoke Monday for the first time since admitting in a sworn affidavit that he used human growth hormone before baseball banned it in 2005.

"If it was illegal in baseball, I wouldn't have done it," Pettitte told reporters at Tampa's Legends Field, where the Yankees hold spring training.

"I never want a young person to do what I did. I'm sorry for the mistakes I have made."

Pettitte, 35, revealed in a deposition to U.S. Congress that he used HGH for two days in 2002, while with the Yankees, and on one other occasion, with the Houston Astros, in 2004.

The latter injection was using syringes provided by Pettitte's father.

"I never wanted to bring my dad into a situation like this," he said. "This was between me and him and no one else.

"I testified about my dad, in part, because I felt, in my heart, I had to. But mainly, because he urged me to tell the truth, even if it hurt him."

"I was never going to bring my dad up," Pettitte admitted. "All I can tell you, from the bottom of my heart, I know why I did this.

"I did it because I was told it might be able to help me. If people think I'm lying, then they should call me a cheater.

"Do I think I'm a cheater? No, I don't. Was it stupid? Yes, I was stupid.

"Was I desperate? Yes, I probably was."

Pettitte, who will likely avoid a suspension, was removed from the witness list for last Tuesday's congressional hearing into steroid use in baseball.

Roger Clemens, Pettitte's friend and former teammate, and Brian McNamee, who served as a trainer for both pitchers, testified at the hearing, in which Pettitte's sworn statement was discussed.

Pettitte claimed in the affidavit that Clemens spoke to him about using HGH nearly a decade ago, and that McNamee spoke about Clemens using performance-enhancing drugs.

Clemens, who testified that he has never used steroids, told Congress that Pettitte simply "misremembers."

"I think it has put a strain on our friendship," Pettitte said. "I think Roger knows how I feel about him.

"He knows I have admired him and continue to admire him. He is a great friend to me."

Conflicting accounts

Pettitte could become embroiled in a legal battle between Clemens and McNamee, whose conflicting accounts before Congress may be subject to a criminal investigation on suspicion of perjury.

Moreover, Clemens has filed a defamation lawsuit against McNamee.

"This has been a horrible situation for me," Pettitte said. "I'm hoping and praying I don't have to do anything else."

"If that were to all die down, I think it would pretty much go away," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "But obviously, there is some litigation there that Andy might be a part of.

"So from that standpoint, it could linger. But my thought is Andy has probably told everything that there is."

Pettitte posted a 15-9 record with a 4.05 earned-run average in 34 starts and two relief appearances last season, his 10th in New York.

The left-hander is 201-113 lifetime with a 3.83 ERA and 25 complete games in 403 appearances (393 starts) over 13 MLB seasons with the Yankees and Astros.

Pettitte re-signed with New York on Dec. 3 for $16 million US.