David Ortiz: “I Never Used Steroids”

David Ortiz, the Boston Red Sox slugger who recently was named as being on a 2003 list that included baseball players that had tested positive for performance enhancers, announced on Saturday that he never purchased or used steroids.

Said Ortiz: “I definitely was a little bit careless back in those days when I was buying supplements and vitamins over the counter — legal supplements, legal vitamins over the counter — but I never buy steroids or use steroids.”

In addition to Ortiz, that 2003 steroids list reported included Alex Rodriguez, Sammy Sosa and Manny Ramirez. Ortiz was apologetic about his inclusion on the list.

Said Ortiz: “I want to apologize to fans for the distraction, my teammates, our manager. This past week has been a nightmare to me.”

This season, even before this news, there had been whispers about Ortiz past steroids use explaining why he has struggled so much this season. On the year, Ortiz is hitting just .219 with 15 homers and 61 RBIs. The 33-year-old’s bad season just got worse.

“I never thought that buying supplements and vitamins,” said Ortiz, “it was going to hurt anybody’s feelings.”