Bonds' attorney insists client did nothing illegal

[millbank]

Barry Bonds' attorney said Friday that the Giants' slugger is saddened by news reports linking him to possible steroid use, but he insisted that his client is innocent.

 

"He did not take anything illegal. His best friend in the world (trainer Greg Anderson) did not give him anything illegal," attorney Mike Rains said on the steps of an Oakland courthouse, flanked by some two dozen reporters and news crews.

 

Rains was responding to a front-page story published today in The Chronicle detailing Bonds' testimony before a federal grand jury investigating the Bay Area Laboratory Co-operative, known as BALCO. Federal prosecutors accuse the firm, and Anderson, of distributing undetectable steroids called "the cream," a balm rubbed on the body, and "the clear," a substance taken orally.

 

A grand jury in February indicted Anderson on charges of money laundering and conspiracy to distribute steroids.

 

Bonds testified he had received such substances from Anderson, his boyhood friend and trainer, but believed them to be flaxseed oil and an arthritis cream.

 

"He does not believe any of those substances were any type of steroid or anabolic substance," Rains said.

 

Rains said Bonds used the substances only sporadically after the death of his father, former Giants all-star Bobby Bonds, in August 2003, and saw no physical effect.

 

"He did not take the items in concert or systematically, like steroids have to be taken to have an effect," he added.

 

He said Bonds also was saddened by reports, first published Thursday in The Chronicle, that Yankees slugger Jason Giambi admitted to the same grand jury that he used steroids he received from Anderson.

 

Barry stills says no

[BillsFanM.D.]

...so did Peterson's attorney, ...so did Nixon,...so did OJ's dream team,...so did Enron,...so did blah, blah blah.

[seq004]

Barry Bonds' attorney said Friday that the Giants' slugger is saddened by news reports linking him to possible steroid use, but he insisted that his client is innocent.

 

"He did not take anything illegal. His best friend in the world (trainer Greg Anderson) did not give him anything illegal," attorney Mike Rains said on the steps of an Oakland courthouse, flanked by some two dozen reporters and news crews.

 

Rains was responding to a front-page story published today in The Chronicle detailing Bonds' testimony before a federal grand jury investigating the Bay Area Laboratory Co-operative, known as BALCO. Federal prosecutors accuse the firm, and Anderson, of distributing undetectable steroids called "the cream," a balm rubbed on the body, and "the clear," a substance taken orally.

 

A grand jury in February indicted Anderson on charges of money laundering and conspiracy to distribute steroids.

 

Bonds testified he had received such substances from Anderson, his boyhood friend and trainer, but believed them to be flaxseed oil and an arthritis cream.

 

"He does not believe any of those substances were any type of steroid or anabolic substance," Rains said.

 

Rains said Bonds used the substances only sporadically after the death of his father, former Giants all-star Bobby Bonds, in August 2003, and saw no physical effect.

 

"He did not take the items in concert or systematically, like steroids have to be taken to have an effect," he added.

 

He said Bonds also was saddened by reports, first published Thursday in The Chronicle, that Yankees slugger Jason Giambi admitted to the same grand jury that he used steroids he received from Anderson.

 

Barry stills says no

145548[/snapback]

In the words of "Doctor Evil" "Riiiiiiiiight". Bonds makes me sick. One of things I always notice with steroid users is that their face blows up like a balloon. Take a look at Bonds in Pittsburgh.

[kasper13]

That's what attorneys do. They lie for their clients. If someone doesn't believe that Barry Bonds used steroids, testosterone and other kinds of performance enhancing drugs then I don't even know what.