Andy Pettitte: 'I don't believe I tried to enhance performance' with HGH

Former Yankees pitcher Andy Pettitte says he doesn't believe he cheated when he took human growth hormone so he could heal faster and return from an injury.

Former New York Yankees pitcher Andy Pettitte says he doesn't believe he cheated when he took human growth hormone so he could heal faster and return from an injury.

Pettitte appeared on ESPN Radio on Tuesday and was asked about performance enhancing drugs.

"People are going to say what they want to, believe what they want to," Pettitte said. "When you say PEDs to me, man, I just can't even comprehend that with me just because I don't really believe I tried to enhance my performance on the field."

He said the reason he took HGH was because he was "desperate" to get back to playing and was told it might help him recover sooner.

• A-Rod issues handwritten apology for PED 'mistakes'

Pettitte spent 15 of his 18 MLB seasons with the Yankees, winning 219 games and five World Series championships. The Yankees announced this week that they will retire Pettitte's No. 46 this summer.

One of Pettitte's former teammates, Chuck Knoblauch took to Twitter, calling Pettitte out for his PED use.

Both Pettitte and Knoblauch were listed on former Sen. George Mitchell's report on players who had used performance-enhancing drugs and later admitted to using HGH.

"I've never tried to do anything to cheat to enhance my performance on the field," Pettitte said.

- Scooby Axson