Giambi's confession may spark others

He is the first active player with significant major-league experience to publicly admit that he knowingly used steroids.

In an interview with the Kansas City Star he said he was confessing in the hope that it will help keep others from making similar mistakes.

"It's something I did," he told the newspaper. "I apologise. I made a mistake. I moved on. I kind of want it in the past.

"They're not good for you. I think we need to reach out and let teenagers know they're not good for your body and not good for your health."

The younger Giambi broke into the majors with the Kansas City Royals in 1998 but has never enjoyed the success or fame of his older brother.

The steroid spotlight has been focused on Jason Giambi since his name surfaced during a grand jury investigation into Balco scandal.

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The San Francisco Chronicle reported in December that he told a grand jury investigating the Balco case that he had used steroids.

Last month, Jason Giambi held a news conference at which he apologised but did not say exactly what it was he was sorry for.

But his younger brother said: "If you don't know what he's apologising for you must have been in a coma for two years."

A promising outfielder, Giambi broke into the big leagues in 1998 with the Royals and played with his older brother at Oakland from 2000-01.

In 2002 he was traded to Philadelphia then spent the 2003 season with Boston.

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Giambi has missed much of the last two seasons due to injuries, some which he believes may have been the result of steroid use.

"Baseball has taken a step forward," he told the Star. "I wouldn't want to be the first one to get caught. It might be worse than a murder trial."

Giambi has signed a minor league contract with the Chicago White Sox in an attempt to work his way back into the majors.