NEW YORK — Alex Rodriguez, the player who would restore integrity to MLB's home run record, admitted Monday to using performance-enhancing drugs.

The All-Star third baseman said in an interview with ESPN that he used steroids with Texas for three years, from 2001-03, in an attempt to justify his status as the game's highest-paid player.

"Back then it was a different culture," Rodriguez said. "It was very loose. I was young. I was stupid. I was naive, and I wanted to prove to everyone that, you know, I was worth, you know — and being one of the greatest players of all time."

He said he quit after 2003, his first of three AL MVP seasons, because "I've proved to myself and to everyone that I don't need any of that." He was traded to New York before the 2004 season.

The admission came two days after Sports Illustrated reported on its Web site that A-Rod was among 104 names on a list of players who tested positive for steroids in 2003, when testing was intended to determine the extent of steroid use. The results weren't subject to discipline and were supposed to remain anonymous.

"When I arrived in Texas in 2001, I felt an enormous amount of pressure. I felt like I had all the weight of the world on top of me and I needed to perform, and perform at a high level every day," Rodriguez said.

"And I did take a banned substance and, you know, for that I'm very sorry and deeply regretful. And although it was the culture back then and Major League Baseball overall was very — I just feel that — You know, I'm just sorry. I'm sorry for that time. I'm sorry to fans. I'm sorry for my fans in Texas. It wasn't until then that I ever thought about substance of any kind."

The 33-year-old Rodriguez ranks 12th on the career list with 553 homers, including 52, 57 and 47 in his three seasons with the Rangers. He is 209 behind Barry Bonds' record 762.

SI.com reported A-Rod tested positive for Primobolan and testosterone.

"It was such a loosey-goosey era. I'm guilty for a lot of things. I'm guilty for being negligent, naive, not asking all the right questions," Rodriguez said. "And to be quite honest, I don't know exactly what substance I was guilty of using."