"I never want a young person to do what I did," he said in apologizing to his Yankees' and Houston Astros' teammates and fans and children who looked up to him as a hero.
TAMPA, Florida (Reuters) - New York Yankees pitcher Andy Pettitte apologized on Monday for using human growth hormone and said he had not talked to his good friend Roger Clemens since the U.S. Congress held hearings last week on drug and steroid use by baseball players.
"I never want a young person to do what I did," he said in apologizing to his Yankees' and Houston Astros' teammates and fans and children who looked up to him as a hero.
In an hourlong news conference, Pettitte discussed the sworn statement he gave to the congressional committee that admitted he used HGH in 2002 and 2004.
Pettitte said he taken HGH to help recover from an elbow injury and not to get an advantage over other players. He said he did not consider himself a cheater.
!ADVERTISEMENT!In the sworn statement, Pettitte said he and Clemens, a former teammate with the Yankees and Houston, discussed HGH use and that Clemens had said he had used it. Clemens testified last week that Pettitte was mistaken and he had never used HGH or steroids.
Asked about the conflicting statements on Monday, Pettitte replied, "I'm not going to go there." He added had not talked to Clemens, one of baseball's most dominant pitchers in the past two decades, since the congressional hearing.
"I love him like a brother," Pettitte said of Clemens, but added, "It's put a strain on our relationship."
Pettitte said he had considered not playing this season, but decided it would be cowardly. He said he hoped to put the controversy behind him and help the Yankees win, but knew it would be difficult.
"As far as the baseball season goes, I'll just have to deal with it," Pettitte said.
He said he had been promised 100 percent support by Yankee owner George Steinbrenner.
Yankee manager Joe Girardi and general manager Brian Cashman sat next to Pettitte at the news conference at the Yankees' spring training camp. Teammates Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada and Mariano Rivera also were there to show their support.
Girardi said he was sure Pettitte could handle the situation. "Andy has a good heart," Girardi said.
Pettitte, a left-handed pitcher, reported to the training camp four days late. He said his pitching arm felt great but that he needed to get into better condition.
Pettitte had a 15-9 record for the Yankees in 2007 and is being counted on to be one of the team's top starters this year. He signed a one-year $16 million contract in December.
(Written by Robert Green; Editing by David Wiessler)
