WASHINGTON, D.C. -- A congressional committee said it won't pursue steroid-related perjury charges against Major League baseball player Rafael Palmeiro.

The House Government Reform committee said there wasn't enough evidence to prove Palmeiro lied during his March 17 testimony when he said he had "never used steroids," then failed a steroid test six weeks later.

It was during that hearing that Palmeiro said, "I have never taken steroids. Period."

In a 44-page report, the committee said it didn't make any other determinations about claims made by Palmeiro or others.

His lawyers stressed there's no evidence Palmeiro took steroids before his congressional testimony, and that a second test was negative.

In a lengthy statement Wednesday, Palmeiro said a shot of vitamin B-12 that he took just a few weeks after testifying could have been tainted with a banned substance.

That failed steroid test resulted in a 10-day suspension and ultimately a dismissal from the Baltimore Orioles.

The GRC investigated to determine if the committee needed to determine if Palmeiro lied under oath.

On Wednesday, Palmeiro continued to say he had "never intentionally taken steroids." However, the four-time All-Star and three-time Gold Glove winner admitted Stanozolol, a banned substance, was found in his system in May.

"Although I do not know how this substance came into my body, it is possible that a shot of vitamin B-12 I took sometime in April might have been the cause," Palmeiro said in a statement.

Palmeiro said he was required by Major League Baseball Players' Association to reveal the details of how he possibly got the tainted B-12. Palmeiro said he has never "implicated a player in the intentional use or distribution of steroids, or any other illegal substance, in any interview or testimony.

"I am not trying to hold others responsible. I was careless in not seeking a doctor's advice and made a foolish mistake. Nobody is more frustrated and disappointed in me than I am. Throughout my adult life, I have worked very hard on and off the field to live my life in an honorable way."

The 41-year-old Palmeiro is one of just four players in major league history with 3,000 hits and 500 homers. He reached the 3,000-hit milestone July 15 at Seattle.

"All my accomplishments are now tainted, and many people have been hurt," Palmeiro continued. "I deeply regret the pain I have cause my family, my teammates, my fans and the game of baseball. I am sorry for the distraction that I have caused to the Orioles' clubhouse and the league."

Palmeiro's suspension was announced after an arbitration process. He finished his 20th season in the majors hitting .266 with 18 homers and 60 RBI, and then declared for free agency.

Palmeiro played sparingly after coming back from his suspension, but was a constant distraction for the Orioles and the team told him to stay home for the final few days of the season.

Meanwhile, Palmeiro's lawyers released an even longer statement, and detailed the player's accomplishments in the majors with a long list of statistics and trends, describing how he's always hit for power. Palmeiro has 569 career homers and 1,835 RBI.

Palmeiro's lawyers said there was no evidence he used steroids prior to his testimony before Congress in March, and that he had undisclosed drug tests in 2003 and '04, and those came back negative for steroids both times. Palmeiro was informed he failed his test on May 19 and a second test, taken May 27, was negative for steroids.

According to Palmeiro's lawyers, the only item that could not be tested and was therefore suspect was a vial of liquid, injectable B-12. His lawyers said Palmeiro took the B-12 in mid-April and it was provided to him by a teammate.

Orioles shortstop Miguel Tejada disclosed that he gave the B-12 shot to Palmeiro, but it was found not to contain any illegal substances. Tejada was cleared in any implication that he provided steroids to Palmeiro.