New and Stunning Allegations Against Barry Bonds

Sports Illustrated has just posted a story on a new book by San Francisco Chronicle reporters Mark Fainaru-Wada and Lance Williams entitled "Game of Shadows." The book examines, in excruciating detail, alleged steroid use by Barry Bonds:

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 . . .

[W]hen 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 . . .

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.

These allegations are based on information compiled by Fainaru-Wada and Williams over a two-year investigation that included 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.

If these allegations are true--and, in Bonds' defense, it may be difficult to verify some of the sources--then I suspect that he will not be elected in the Hall of Fame. Fainaru-Wada and Williams have painted a grotesque picture of a habitual cheater whose performance was greatly aided by prohibited drugs. Also, some will now argue that Bonds' existing records should be removed or have an asterisk placed next them. Needless to say, Games of Shadows will make for even more awkward times this season as Bonds approaches the home run records of Babe Ruth and possibly Hank Aaron.

And how many pitchers will now walk him -- every time up? He may never get another pitch to hit.

Thanks to Attorney Brian Barnes of the Mississippi College School of Law Library for alerting me to this story.

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