BOSTON -- Red Sox star David Ortiz said Saturday that he has never bought or used steroids, but he left open the possibility that other supplements may have triggered his inclusion in a government list of players who tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs in 2003.

Ortiz said that he had been "careless" in taking vitamin supplements and other over-the-counter products in the years before the 2003 test, WCBV-TV reported.

"I consider myself one of the guys that, I definitely was a little bit careless back in those days when I was buying supplements, vitamins, over the counter -- legal supplements, legal vitamins, over the counter -- but I never (bought) steroids or used steroids,” Ortiz said.

On July 30, the New York Times reported that Ortiz and former Red Sox player Manny Ramirez are both on a list of 104 players who tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs in 2003, citing anonymous sources with access to the sealed government list.

"I'm the kind of guy that I want to apologize to the fans for the distraction," said Ortiz. "My teammates, our manager -- we're into a situation right now. This past week has been a nightmare."

Michael Weiner, a lawyer for the player’s union, blasted the Times for leaking information from the list, and said that players who appear on the list may not necessarily have been using banned substances.

In 2003, 96 tests came back positive for performance-enhancing drugs, but 13 of the tests were called into question, and the results of those tests were never resolved. Additionally, Weiner said players who were tested more than once may account for multiple positive results.

Representatives from Major League Baseball, the game’s governing body, said Saturday that they are “unable to assess the accuracy of leaks relating to individual names," because the league doesn't have a copy of the 2003 test results.

“Given the uncertainties inherent in the list, we urge the press and the public to use caution in reaching conclusions based on leaks of names, particularly from sources whose identities are not revealed,” said a statement released Saturday by the MLB.

MLB officials pointed out that 104 players are named on the list, but only 96 positive results were recorded under the 2003 testing.