Report: Bonds used massive amounts of steroids

[CincyRedsFan30]

Bonds exposed
Shadows details superstar slugger's steroid use
Posted: Tuesday March 7, 2006 12:55PM; Updated: Tuesday March 7, 2006 12:55PM

NEW YORK (SI.com) -- Beginning in 1998 with injections in his buttocks of Winstrol, a powerful steroid, Barry Bonds took a wide array of performance-enhancing drugs over at least five seasons in a massive doping regimen that grew more sophisticated as the years went on, according to Game of Shadows, a book written by two San Francisco Chronicle reporters at the forefront of reporting on the BALCO steroid distribution scandal.

(An excerpt of Game of Shadows that details Bonds' steroid use appears exclusively in the March 13 issue of Sports Illustrated, which is available on newsstands beginning on Wednesday. The book's publication date is March 27.)

The authors, Mark Fainaru-Wada and Lance Williams, describe in sometimes day-to-day, drug-by-drug detail how often and how deeply Bonds engaged in the persistent doping. For instance, the authors write that by 2001, when Bonds broke Mark McGwire's single-season home-run record (70) by belting 73, Bonds was using two designer steroids referred to as the Cream and the Clear, as well as insulin, human growth hormone, testosterone decanoate (a fast-acting steroid known as Mexican beans) and trenbolone, a steroid created to improve the muscle quality of cattle.

BALCO tracked Bonds' usage with doping calendars and folders -- detailing drugs, quantities, intervals and Bonds' testosterone levels -- that wound up in the hands of federal agents upon their Sept. 3, 2003 raid of the Burlingame, Calif., business.

Depending on the substance, Bonds used the drugs in virtually every conceivable form: injecting himself with a syringe or being injected by his trainer, Greg Anderson, swallowing pills, placing drops of liquid under his tongue, and, in the case of BALCO's notorious testosterone-based cream, applying it topically.

According to the book, Bonds gulped as many as 20 pills at a time and was so deeply reliant on his regimen that he ordered Anderson to start "cycles" -- a prescribed period of steroid use lasting about three weeks -- even when he was not due to begin one. Steroid users typically stop usage for a week or two periodically to allow the body to continue to produce natural testosterone; otherwise, such production diminishes or ceases with the continued introduction of synthetic forms of the muscle-building hormone.

Bonds called for the re-starting of cycles when he felt his energy and power start to drop. If Anderson told Bonds he was not due for another cycle, the authors write, Bonds would tell him, "F--- off, I'll do it myself.''

The authors compiled the information over a two-year investigation that included, but was not limited to, court documents, affidavits filed by BALCO investigators, confidential memoranda of federal agents (including statements made to them by athletes and trainers), grand jury testimony, audiotapes and interviews with more than 200 sources. Some of the information previously was reported by the authors in the Chronicle. Some of the information is new. For instance, in an extensive note on sourcing, the authors said memos detailing statements by BALCO owner Victor Conte, vice president James Valente and Anderson to IRS special agent Jeff Novitzky were sealed when they first consulted them, but have been unsealed since.

[Hmark6]

In other news, a study shows the sky is blue and the Pope is a Catholic and bears reportedly sh!t in the woods.

[Fishercat]

When I saw the headline, I expected it to be another Canseco deal (I saw this, I saw that, gimme money). But this looks pretty legitimate, I'll like to read it...

[Saber]

If it's legit, Barry won't get in the Hall until he's dead.

Or unless he's dead.

[McKain]

What if he dies from ODing on steroids?

I bet he's double-****ed, then.

[CincyRedsFan30]

They added this to the story. Disgusting:

Sports Illustrated said that Bonds, when informed of the book on Tuesday morning and asked if he was concerned, told reporters, "Nope. I won't even look at it [the book]. For what? I won't even look at it. There's no need to."

Authors Fainaru-Wada and Lance Williams write in the book that Bonds' drive to steroids began because he was jealous of St. Louis Cardinals slugger Mark McGwire, who staged one of the most memorable individual duels in baseball history in 1998 when he hit 70 home runs to Sammy Sosa's 66, according to Sports Illustrated.

The book says that Bonds told his mistress Kimberly Bell that the media and baseball was going easy on McGwire, who admitted using the supplement andro in 1998. "They're just letting him do it because he's a white boy," the book cites Bonds as telling Bell.

After that season, Bonds -- who hit 37 home runs that year -- turned to good friend and physical trainer Greg Anderson, a workout fiend and known for his ability to obtain steroids and growth hormone from AIDS patients in San Francisco who sold their legal prescriptions for money, the book says.

The book says the Giants learned that Anderson was connected to a gym known as a place where one could obtain steroids and that he was possibly a dealer, according to the SI report. But the Giants let Anderson have free reign at their facilities because they did not want to upset their best star Bonds.

The book cites Bonds' dramatic increase in home run production. He averaged one homer for every 16.1 at bats through 1998, when he turned 34. Since then, in the seven seasons of 1999 through 2005, Bonds has hit a home run for every 8.5 at bats.

After Bonds began taking Winstrol, also known as stanozolol, taken by disgraced sprinter Ben Johnson and baseball star Rafael Palmeiro, Bonds added 15 pounds of muscle in 100 days, the book says.

[SF Kid]

Gonna get ugly looks like.

Why Barry? Why?

[ghettochild]

discount every stat he has done from 98 to 05:

SEASON 	TEAM 	G 	AB 	R 	H 	2B 	3B 	HR 	RBI 	BB 	SO 	SB 	CS 	AVG 	OBP 	SLG 	OPS
1986 	Pit 	113 	413 	72 	92 	26 	3 	16 	48 	65 	102 	36 	7 	.223 	.330 	.416 	.746
1987 	Pit 	150 	551 	99 	144 	34 	9 	25 	59 	54 	88 	32 	10 	.261 	.329 	.492 	.821
1988 	Pit 	144 	538 	97 	152 	30 	5 	24 	58 	72 	82 	17 	11 	.283 	.368 	.491 	.859
1989 	Pit 	159 	580 	96 	144 	34 	6 	19 	58 	93 	93 	32 	10 	.248 	.351 	.426 	.777
1990 	Pit 	151 	519 	104 	156 	32 	3 	33 	114 	93 	83 	52 	13 	.301 	.406 	.565 	.971
1991 	Pit 	153 	510 	95 	149 	28 	5 	25 	116 	107 	73 	43 	13 	.292 	.410 	.514 	.924
1992 	Pit 	140 	473 	109 	147 	36 	5 	34 	103 	127 	69 	39 	8 	.311 	.456 	.624 	1.080
1993 	SF 	159 	539 	129 	181 	38 	4 	46 	123 	126 	79 	29 	12 	.336 	.458 	.677 	1.135
1994 	SF 	112 	391 	89 	122 	18 	1 	37 	81 	74 	43 	29 	9 	.312 	.426 	.647 	1.073
1995 	SF 	144 	506 	109 	149 	30 	7 	33 	104 	120 	83 	31 	10 	.294 	.431 	.577 	1.008
1996 	SF 	158 	517 	122 	159 	27 	3 	42 	129 	151 	76 	40 	7 	.308 	.461 	.615 	1.076
1997 	SF 	159 	532 	123 	155 	26 	5 	40 	101 	145 	87 	37 	8 	.291 	.446 	.585 	1.031

340 HR's, 1094 RBI'S, .288 career AVG

definatly not HOF worthy in my eyes.


not even worth the (*)

[General]

That's in 10 seasons though.


Not arguing, as he doesn't belong there, but that IS in 10 seasons.

[McKain]

340 HRs...

and 400+ SBs.

[Pronk48]

If this is true,it'll put a dark cloud over baseball.

What should MLB do?Let his stats from 1998-present stand?Revoke all the stats?Put an asterick with all the stats?

Will they ban Bonds from baseball like they did Pete Rose?Wouldn't you consider this WORSE than what Rose did?

I have never liked Bonds,and this just fuels my dislike for him even more.He won't respond or read the book simply because he knows it's true.

You don't get two hat sizes bigger (and that fast) by just simply lifting weights.

[rockin500]

eh, its not really news, not really that important and doesnt really change my opinion of him.

its not like this is anything we havent heard before.

frankly, i wouldnt really care if he took a needle and jabbed it in his ass before his atbat in front of everyone.

baseball wanted offense. they got their offense. MLB and the players union is as culpable as anyone here.

[Fishercat]

I just don't see how Bonds is any different then any other player in terms of major treatment. Until all cheaters (read: Sosa (corked bat), Ruth (reports of corked bat), Gaylord Perry (spitballs), Ty Cobb (well...)) receive a uniform punishment in terms of records and such...well.

Personally, if he is caught taking steroids, he should be suspended just as any other first time offender would and allow the HoF Voters to make their vote on whether he should get in by their own parameters. As they will with Palmeiro, as they will with anyone.

I just don't see why Bonds records should be revoked when no one else's have been in spite of known cheating or even taking legal drugs like amphetamines (a truly underrated part of the steroid argument).

[Saber]

No, he's not worse than Pete Rose.

Yes, he in trouble now.

[Kingdom]

I'm shocked Rick Riley didn't use this in that takes up a bunch of space thing he calls a column.