Bonds' trainer subpoenaed

0 Comments | Deseret News (Salt Lake City), Apr 26, 2006

SAN FRANCISCO -- Barry Bonds' personal trainer has been subpoenaed to testify before the federal grand jury investigating whether the San Francisco Giants' slugger committed perjury, according to media reports Tuesday night.

The San Jose Mercury News reported on its Web site that a spokeswoman for Greg Anderson's attorney confirmed that the trainer and BALCO coconspirator had received the subpoena.

The Mercury News, citing an unidentified source close to the investigation, also reported that former Bay Area Laboratory Co- Operative vice president James Valente was subpoenaed. The San Francisco Chronicle also reported the two men had been subpoenaed to testify.

A phone message left with Anderson's attorney and an e-mail to Valente's attorney were not immediately answered. Bonds declined to comment on the reports Tuesday night.

Anderson and Valente both pleaded guilty last year to steroid distribution charges in the BALCO case. Bonds testified in December 2003 to the grand jury investigating that case and denied knowingly taking performance-enhancing drugs, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

Anderson, who did not implicate Bonds in his plea deal last summer, is alleged to have provided Bonds with the performance- enhancing drugs from BALCO.

That prompted a new grand jury to start investigating Bonds for perjury charges. Giants athletic trainer Stan Conte and Bonds' surgeon, Dr. Arthur Ting, have already been called to testify in front of that grand jury.

According to excerpts of the testimony previously reported by the Chronicle, Bonds testified that he used a clear substance and a cream given to him by a trainer who later pleaded guilty in a steroid-distribution ring, but said he didn't know they were steroids.

Bonds told the grand jury that Anderson told him the substances he used were the nutritional supplement flaxseed oil and a rubbing balm for arthritis.

The substances Bonds described were similar to ones known as "the clear" and "the cream," two steroids at the center of the BALCO scandal. Investigators seized calendars that recorded schedules for Bonds' use of those drugs, as well as human growth hormone, clomid, insulin and other steroids, according to the Chronicle.

Bonds hit his 710th career homer in the Giants' 4-1 loss to the New York Mets on Tuesday night and is five shy of passing Babe Ruth for second place all-time. Hank Aaron holds the career record with 755.