Bonds’ Attorney Attacks Steroid Allegations

On a Sunday afternoon when Barry Bonds played sparingly, his attorney took a few swings at news reports further linking the San Francisco Giant slugger to steroid use.

The San Francisco Chronicle and San Jose Mercury News reported that Victor Conte, the man at the center of a federal steroid investigation, told agents he had furnished steroids to Bonds.

Conte implicated nearly 30 other athletes, including baseball players Jason Giambi and Gary Sheffield and sprinters Marion Jones and Tim Montgomery, sources told the newspapers.

“It’s too bad that whoever in the government continues to leak this information is allowed to do it,” said Michael Rains, Bonds’ attorney. “It indicates to me that this isn’t about trying to seek justice.... they are still trying to sensationalize the case.”

Bonds has denied taking steroids, as have the other athletes named in the reports. None of them has been charged.

Conte reportedly made his statements to agents in September during a raid on his Northern California company, Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative, or BALCO.

During an ensuing grand jury investigation, dozens of athletes with alleged ties to BALCO were called to testify.

Prosecutors eventually charged Conte, BALCO Vice President James Valente, track coach Remi Korchemny and personal trainer Greg Anderson, who worked for Bonds, with illegally distributing steroids.

Rains said he had spoken with Conte’s lawyer, who insisted the lab owner did not implicate athletes by name when speaking with agents during the September raid.

In a published statement, attorney Robert Holley -- and another defense attorney in the case, Troy Ellerman -- said Conte was coerced into making statements and that his remarks were misinterpreted.

“Mr. Conte adamantly denies any discussion with any agent concerning the steroid use of any specific track and field athlete or baseball player,” Holley and Ellerman said. “It is fabrication.”

When agents subsequently raided Anderson’s condominium, the personal trainer told them Bonds had not taken steroids, Rains said.

“If the government had reason to believe that Barry had taken anything illegal, they would have indicted Greg Anderson for lying to a federal agent,” the attorney said. “That’s what they did to Martha Stewart.”

On Sunday at Dodger Stadium, Bonds left in the fifth inning with the Giants trailing, 7-0. Earlier, he had popped up to third and singled to right.

Though the left fielder was batting above .500 and led the major leagues with nine home runs, his attorney said this season has not been easy.

“I think he’s showing the world what he’s all about,” Rains said. “I guess this is a tribute to his athletic ability that with all this nonsense swirling around him, he is keeping his eye on the ball and swinging a mean bat.”