Bonds may have received warning of drug tests

SAN FRANCISCO -- Barry Bonds and his supporters often pointed to the fact that the home run king never flunked a drug test administered by Major League Baseball.

The Mitchell Report suggests why: It appears Bonds received advanced warning of two tests in 2003.

According to the report, Bonds was tested for steroid use on May 28 and June 4, 2003 as part of MLB's first attempt at formal detection. The report cites a San Francisco Chronicle report that it had obtained a tape recording of Bonds' personal trainer Greg Anderson boasting he received advanced notice of the testing. Anderson purportedly said on the recording that he was told the 2003 testing would occur in late May or early June.

"Therefore," the report said, "if the report of this conversation is accurate Anderson correctly predicted the dates of testing, at least for his client Barry Bonds."

Former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell released the report Thursday, culminating a 20-month investigation into steroids in baseball. Bonds was mentioned 103 times in the 409-page report.

Mitchell said Bonds, under investigation for perjury at the time, declined to talk to him. "Under these circumstances his refusal to talk with me was understandable," Mitchell said.

Bonds was charged Nov. 15 with perjury and obstruction of justice related to that December 2003 testimony before a federal grand jury.

But in the report, Mitchell said San Francisco Giants owner Peter Magowan told him that he asked Bonds in 2004 if he took steroids.

"According to Magowan, Bonds responded that when he took the substances he did not know they were steroids but he later learned they were," Mitchell wrote.

"Bonds said that he took these substances for a period of time to help with his arthritis, as well as sleeping problems he attributed to concern about his father's failing health," Mitchell wrote. "To emphasize that he was not hiding anything Bonds added that he used these substances in the clubhouse in the plain view of others."

Magowan said the chat came during the end of telephone conversation with the slugger in February 2004.

"Magowan recalled asking Bonds whether this was what he had told the grand jury," Mitchell wrote. "Bonds replied yes. Magowan also asked Bonds if he was telling the truth, and Bonds said he was."

Magowan reported to Mitchell that Bonds said he discontinued use of the substances after a short time because they didn't work.