Roberts admits to using steroids -- once

BALTIMORE -- Baltimore Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts has acknowledged using steroids, but insists he only tried it once before realizing he had made a "terrible decision."

Roberts was named in former Sen. George Mitchell's report on steroid use in major-league baseball. The report came out Thursday, but Roberts did not immediately respond.

In a statement issued Tuesday to The Associated Press, Roberts said he tried steroids four years ago.

"In 2003, when I took one shot of steroids, I immediately realized that this was not what I stood for or anything that I wanted to continue doing. I never used steroids, human growth hormone or any other performance-enhancing drugs prior to or since that single incident," he said.

"I can honestly say before God, myself, my family and all of my fans, that steroids or any performance-enhancing drugs have never had any effect on what I have worked so hard to accomplish in the game of baseball."

Roberts, who has been the subject of trade rumors with the Cubs, was in the Mitchell report because former teammate Larry Bigbie informed investigators that Roberts told him he used steroids "once or twice" in 2003.

"I am very sorry and I deeply regret ever making that terrible decision," Roberts said in the statement. "My only hope and prayer is that the Orioles, my family, friends and fans that have supported me so faithfully will forgive me."

On Dec. 6, Bruce Miles of the Daily Herald reported that it would take at least two players and possibly three from the Cubs to acquire the switch-hitting second baseman. Cubs insiders indicated that Roberts was an attractive player to them.

He has never failed a drug test and previously had denied vigorously ever using performance-enhancing drugs.