Barry Bonds

The BALCO Scandal

In 2003, Bonds became embroiled in a scandal when Greg F. Anderson of the Bay Area Laboratory Co-operative, Bonds' trainer since 2000, was indicted by a federal grand jury and charged with supplying anabolic steroids to athletes, including a number of unnamed baseball players. This led to speculation that Bonds had used performance-enhancing drugs during a time when there was no mandatory testing in Major League Baseball. Bonds declared his innocence, attributing his changed physique and increased power to a strict regimen of bodybuilding and legitimate dietary supplements.

Related Topics:
2003 - Greg F. Anderson - Bay Area Laboratory Co-operative - 2000 - Grand jury - Anabolic steroids

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During grand jury testimony in December 2003 -- which was illegally leaked to the San Francisco Chronicle and published in December 2004 -- Bonds said that Anderson gave him a rubbing balm and a liquid substance which others speculated as being "the cream" and "the clear." The paper reported that these substances were probably designer steroids. Bonds said that at the time he did not believe them to be steroids.

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In August, 2005, all four defendants in the BALCO steroid scandal trial - including Greg Anderson, Barry Bonds' personal trainer - struck deals with federal prosecutors which did not require them to reveal names of athletes who may have used banned drugs.

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Various baseball pundits, fans, and even players have taken this as confirmation that Bonds uses illegal steroids. However, Bonds has never failed a drug test, despite being tested by MLB (because THG can only be detected by taking a blood sample) in 2003, 2004 and 2005.

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