McGwire: 'I used steroids'

ST. LOUIS, Jan. 11 (UPI) -- Former St. Louis Cardinals slugger Mark McGwire admitted that he used steroids for several years, including the season in which he hit a record 70 home runs.

McGwire issued a statement saying, "I used steroids during my playing career and I apologize."

The statement came out ahead of an interview with broadcaster Bob Costas to be aired Monday on the MLB Network.

McGwire left baseball in 2001 after hitting 583 home runs over a 16-season career. In 1998, he broke Roger Maris's single-season home run record of 61 set in 1961 when he hit 70 home runs. He added 65 homers the following season.

He denied using illegal performance-enhancing drugs after he left the game and he refused to answer questions on steroid use during an under-oath appearance before a congressional committee.

The Cardinals have hired McGwire to be their hitting coach in 2010.

In the statement, McGwire said he tried steroids "briefly" in the 1989-90 offseason and after he was injured in 1993.

"I used them on occasion through the '90s, including during the 1998 season," McGwire said. "I wish I never touched steroids. It was foolish and it was a mistake. I truly apologize. Looking back, I wish I had never played during the steroid era."

McGwire refused to say whether steroids had helped him set the record.

"I'm sure people will wonder if I could have hit all those home runs had I never taken steroids," he said. "I had good years when I didn't take any and I had bad years when I didn't take any. I had good years when I took steroids and I had bad years when I took steroids. But no matter what, I shouldn't have done it and for that I'm truly sorry."

He conceded he used steroids in 1998 when he set the record.