Spurminator
09-27-2004, 12:44 AM
Bonds undergoes random test for steroids
•*The left fielder takes the test on Friday as part of baseball's drug prevention program
Giants notebook
SAN FRANCISCO -- Barry Bonds was randomly tested for steroids before Friday night's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. All major-league players must undergo a test as part of the drug prevention program between Major League Baseball and the Players Association.
"Go talk to all the other guys," Bonds said before Saturday's game. "I'm not the only guy who was tested. Why are you talking to me?"
Bonds was more forthcoming with a MLB.com reporter before Friday's game.
"I'm glad this is finally happening," he said. "They'll get the results and it will clear my name. It'll show that there's nothing behind what I've been doing (on the field) all year."
But Bonds, when he was read his comment, denied the implication that his name needed to be cleared.
"My name ain't dirty," Bonds said.
Bonds is having arguably his best year ever, which should provide evidence that he didn't need the use of performance-enhancing drugs to put up his past Bondsian numbers.
"We're having a good year," he said. "My year is pretty much the same as it's been. I'm a few homers short of last year."
Bonds is leading the National League with a .371 batting average, has set records for walks (221) and intentional walks (116), and was on the verge of breaking his records for on-base percentage (.611) and OPS (1.445, on-base plus slugging percentage).
Bonds has been under intense scrutiny since last winter, when he testified before a grand jury investigating the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative (BALCO) for the illegal sale of drugs. Bonds was further linked to the investigation when his friend and personal trainer, Greg Anderson, was indicted on charges of distributing steroids.
Contra Costa Times (http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/sports/9764996.htm?1c)
•*The left fielder takes the test on Friday as part of baseball's drug prevention program
Giants notebook
SAN FRANCISCO -- Barry Bonds was randomly tested for steroids before Friday night's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. All major-league players must undergo a test as part of the drug prevention program between Major League Baseball and the Players Association.
"Go talk to all the other guys," Bonds said before Saturday's game. "I'm not the only guy who was tested. Why are you talking to me?"
Bonds was more forthcoming with a MLB.com reporter before Friday's game.
"I'm glad this is finally happening," he said. "They'll get the results and it will clear my name. It'll show that there's nothing behind what I've been doing (on the field) all year."
But Bonds, when he was read his comment, denied the implication that his name needed to be cleared.
"My name ain't dirty," Bonds said.
Bonds is having arguably his best year ever, which should provide evidence that he didn't need the use of performance-enhancing drugs to put up his past Bondsian numbers.
"We're having a good year," he said. "My year is pretty much the same as it's been. I'm a few homers short of last year."
Bonds is leading the National League with a .371 batting average, has set records for walks (221) and intentional walks (116), and was on the verge of breaking his records for on-base percentage (.611) and OPS (1.445, on-base plus slugging percentage).
Bonds has been under intense scrutiny since last winter, when he testified before a grand jury investigating the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative (BALCO) for the illegal sale of drugs. Bonds was further linked to the investigation when his friend and personal trainer, Greg Anderson, was indicted on charges of distributing steroids.
Contra Costa Times (http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/sports/9764996.htm?1c)