Bonds says random drug test will prove innocence
Barry Bonds hopes his random steroid test last week will remove suspicion that he uses performance-enhancing drugs.
Bonds told MLB.com that he was tested last Friday as part of baseball’s new drug-testing agreement. Each player is tested once during the season.
Under the collective bargaining agreement, a player is sent to counseling for a first positive steroid test and suspended for 15 days or fined up to $10,000 for a second. An infraction is not made public until a second positive test.
“I’m glad this is finally happening,” Bonds told MLB.com. “They’ll get the results and it will clear my name. It’ll show that there’s nothing behind what I’ve been doing (on the field) all year.”
Bonds’ personal trainer and longtime friend, Greg Anderson, is one of four men charged in an alleged steroid-distribution ring that federal prosecutors say supplied dozens of professional athletes with banned substances. They have pleaded not guilty.
Bonds has denied using any performance-enhancing drugs.
Bonds, who has been under suspicion since hitting a record 73 home runs in 2001, has 45 homers and an N.L.-leading .372 batting average this season.
He has set a record with 222 walks this season. He has scored 125 runs and leads the majors with an .839 slugging percentage and .614 on-base percentage.
•The San Francisco Giants fan who caught Barry Bonds’ 700th homer is being sued by another man who says he was the rightful owner of the prized ball, which he maintains was stolen from him during a mad scramble.
Union grieves Guillen suspension
The players’ association filed a grievance seeking to overturn the Anaheim Angels’ suspension of left fielder Jose Guillen.
Guillen was suspended without pay for the rest of the season Sunday because of his outburst after being lifted for a pinch-runner a day earlier in Anaheim.
The suspension would continue into the postseason if the Angels advance that far.
The case will be heard by arbitrator Shyam Das in Oakland on Friday, the day the Angels start a regular season-ending series against the A.L. West-leading Athletics.
General manager Bill Stoneman said the team would tell its story to the arbitrator.
Brewers sale appears to be close
Los Angeles investor Mark L. Attanasio appears to be close to an agreement to buy the Milwaukee Brewers from the family of baseball commissioner Bud Selig.
Steve Greenberg, a New York-based investment banker handling the sale for the Brewers, said he expected a decision to be announced by the end of the week.