Former major-league infielder Fernando Vina admitted Monday that he used human growth hormone four years ago, as suggested in the Mitchell report on drug use in baseball.
Vina, who retired as a player in 2004, was implicated last week in the report, which claimed he bought steroids from New York Mets attendant Kirk Radomski.
Fernando Vina used HGH before it was banned by baseball in 2005.
(Phelan Ebenhack/Associated Press)
"I never bought steroids from him," Vina said. "All I used was HGH."
Vina, 38, told ESPN that he used HGH to help heal hamstring and knee injuries that limited him to 61 games with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2003.
As it was, he wound up playing only 29 games in 2004, for the Detroit Tigers.
"I tried everything rehabbing," Vina said. "I came to a point that I was desperate.
"Was it right? No. Obviously, it was wrong. I'm embarrassed by it. Bottom line, it was stupid. I'm embarrassed now and it didn't help, either."
Vina, who was not contacted by Mitchell or his investigators, hit .282 with 40 home runs, 343 runs batted in, 627 runs scored and 116 stolen bases in 1,148 games over 12 MLB seasons.
The former all-star second baseman played for the Seattle Mariners, Mets, Milwaukee Brewers, Cardinals and Tigers.
Vina won consecutive Gold Glove Awards for defensive excellence in 2001-02.
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