"I'm shocked, shocked to find that performance-enhancing is going on in here!"
Posted on 10/30/2004 8:44:58 PM PDT by Cableguy
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| Memoranda of interviews |
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| Among the revealing documents made public in the BALCO criminal case Friday were accounts of interviews with key figures from Sept. 3, 2003, the day that federal investigators raided the Bay Area lab and the home of Barry Bonds' trainer. The comments of those people, each of whom would later be indicted on steroids distribution and other charges, were summarized by Internal Revenue Service lead investigator Jeff Novitzky in the form of official memos. To read the "Memorandum of Interview" for Greg Anderson, Bonds' trainer, click here. To read the memos summarizing the alleged statements given by BALCO founder Victor Conte Jr. and the vice president of the company, James Valente, click here. Bonds has repeatedly denied using steroids. Anderson, Valente and Conte contend that investigators fabricated their statements and are asking the judge to dismiss charges against them. --Tom Farrey, ESPN.com |
According to a memorandum summarizing the interview conducted by the Internal Revenue Service agent who headed the investigation, BALCO vice president James Valente told federal investigators on the day the lab was raided in September 2003 that the Giants slugger received alleged steroid substances, as did Valente's boss, lab founder Victor Conte.
In statements attributed to Valente in the memos, special agent Jeff Novitzky wrote, "Bonds has received 'the clear' and 'the cream' from BALCO on a 'couple of occasions.' According to Valente, Bonds does not like how 'the clear' makes him feel."
The designer steroid THG has been identified by BALCO founder Conte as "the clear," according to government attorneys. A testosterone-based ointment has been called "the cream." The summary of Valente's interview does not indicate whether Bonds stopped taking "the clear" due to his adverse body reaction.
Conte also told investigators that Bonds was a client of BALCO and that he had been given steroids, according to the investigators' memo of his interview. This had been previously reported, although Friday was the first time the document was submitted into the case file.
Bonds, who has not been indicted, has said through his attorney that he has not used steroids.
According to his interview summary, Valente told investigators that BALCO sometimes sent athletes' urine samples for steroid screening. Once, Jason and Jeremy Giambi tested positive for steroids in a test that BALCO arranged, Valente allegedly told the investigators.
Valente also said BALCO sent Bonds' blood to be tested, but the lab put the name of Greg Anderson, Bonds' personal trainer, on the test because Bonds didn't want to be associated with the test, according to the interview summary. Valente didn't tell agents the result of that test, according to the interview summary.
The federal agents also stated in their reports that they seized calendars and other documents detailing the use of steroids by professional baseball players during the search of Anderson's home. "Included among these files with apparent steroid distribution details was a folder for Barry Bonds," Novitzky wrote.
Anderson stopped his interview with investigators, allegedly saying "he didn't think he should be talking anymore because he didn't want to go to jail" after they confronted him with a file that appeared to detail steroid use by Bonds.
Anderson's attorney, Anna Ling, also has cited alleged misconduct by Novitzky in filing the search warrant affidavits, questioning of defendants and other matters related to the case.
| In statements attributed to BALCO vice president James Valente in the memos, special agent Jeff Novitzky wrote, "Bonds has received 'the clear' and 'the cream' from BALCO on a 'couple of occasions.' According to Valente, Bonds does not like how 'the clear' makes him feel." | ||
Federal prosecutors countered Friday, calling the arguments "meritless," adding that "Anderson's statements are outright falsehoods."
Troy Ellerman, attorney for Valente, told ESPN.com that he is upset that government attorneys released the interview summaries. He labeled as "absolutely false" the notion that Valente fingered Bonds as receiving steroids.
"The federal prosecutors are unadulterated punks and their conduct is going to be 'Exhibit A' to dismiss the case for outrageous government conduct," Ellerman said. "There's a protective order that everyone signs at the outset of the case. We haven't broken our promise. They have."
In a statement to ESPN.com late Friday, Conte denied telling investigators that he gave Bonds steroids.
"I have never given Barry Bonds anabolic steroids at any time. I have never even had a discussion with Bonds about anabolic steroids. Anyone who says anything different is not telling the truth. The memorandum of interview that was released to the media today is filled with information that was completely fabricated by law enforcement officers," Conte told ESPN.com.
The memos were submitted by the U.S. Attorney's office in San Francisco in an attempt by the government to defend against charges by attorneys for four defendants in the case alleging that their clients were subjected to illegal searches and coerced by federal investigators.
The typewritten memos summarizing the interviews cited other athletes who received steroids, including many already mentioned, such as baseball's Gary Sheffield, Benito Santiago and Jason Giambi; NFL players Bill Romanowski, Dana Stubblefield, Barrett Robbins and Johnnie Morton; and track stars Marion Jones and Tim Montgomery.
Conte, Anderson, Valente and track coach Remi Korchemny, are charged with distributing steroids, including the previously undetectable THG, to top athletes. Charges also include possession of human growth hormone, misbranding drugs with intent to defraud and money laundering. They have pleaded not guilty.
Al I can think of is that complex legal term... DUH
Sorry, Bonds records should be removed for violations against the sport of baseball. Just like Pete Rose and Willie Mays.
bla bla bla. Every racist want to bring Barry down but he's hitting now better than ever. He's goinf to pass the great white Babe Ruth but people need to get over it and just chalk it up to a different era.
"I'm shocked, shocked to find that performance-enhancing is going on in here!"
Uhhh .....the real record belongs to Hank Aaron not Ruth. Aaron played in an era where they had real ballparks, not homerun derby tracks. He played with old baseballs, not juiced superballs. HE played during a time when the the game was regulated so that runs had to be generated; scoring five runs was considered alot. Today five runs an inning is considered alot. Aaron played in an era where the players lifted weights too, but somehow just didn't get as big as today's roid heads.
One of the dumbest posts on Free Republic in recent months.
Well I've heard all kinds of crap on the steroids and nobody had explained how it helps a hitter's hand-eye coordination. What's dumb is to think that steroids can make one an overnight MVP. Nobody has said a word about Giambi's sudden drop in power, weight loss and tumor. Yet Bonds shows none of the usage effects and he's pegged as the user. Maybe he did experiment but let's focus on those who can't play now becuase of it.
Sorry BUB, worship your hero, but NO ONE and I mean NO ONe, gets BIGGER , STRONGER, and FASTER in thier late thirties without help.
Barry Bonds is a rare baseball talent, he assured himself of a place in the hall of Fame over 10 years ago. He has been a great player his entire career. BUT, he has always been a guy who would hit 300 with 30 HR, 100 RBI and 30 SB. NOW SUDDENLY after 35, he gains MASSIVE Muscle mass and starts hitting HR like crazy --when every single player in ML history starts dropping off --Sorry, wear your rose colored BLINDERS all you want, Barry is juiced!
If major league baseball lets him continue...then there isn't much need to track records or respect baseball history. I will personally mark through any record listed under Barry Bonds. I feel sorry for the guy...and really wish that baseball had its act together back in the mid-90s when they are started to get out of control. Realistically, I don't think Barry can rate himself better than Mantle or Greenberg. At least 25 percent of Barry's record is based on drugs.
I hold Bud and the owners responsible for letting this all get out of hand. They all could have stopped it...but no one had the guts.
Having watched guys like Bryan Erlacher beef up from a college safety to an NFL MLB in a season I'd say that some people can add bulk up in a year or two. Others can lift all they want and not add bulk...it's genetics. Either he's still juicing or he's the first and only person to get off and not drop muscle. I guess we won't really know until baseball tests.
Nobody's said a word about Giambi? You truly are misinformed. With regard to how steroids benefit a hitter, you must be kidding. Hand-eye coordination and hitting 'ability' aside, if you are much stronger, you hit the ball harder, farther, and with more velocity than you would otherwise. A 370 foot fly-ball out to LF becomes a 400 foot homerun to LF. And routine two-hopper to the shortstop's left, goes quicker and makes it through the infield for a hit. This can't be that hard to figure out, even for someone who is so blinded by race. And by the way, the ballplayer who has taken the biggest hit to his career accomplishments and credibility, due to his behavior, is a white guy, Pete Rose.
Barry is juiced up- big time...no doubt and he is in trouble for his "statements" under oath which uh... were less than totally candid. One should not lie to a federal grand jury- it's not smart!
Bonds and Rose, yeah. But Willie Mays? He was a childhood hero of mine. What has baseball, or anyone, got against him?
You know that there are many strong men around.
That doesn't mean they can hit a round ball with a round bat, and hit it squarely. It takes hand eye co ordination, timing, technique, and who knows what else. Give Barry his due, He is the best hitter ever.
Babe Ruth was a pitcher and a homerun hitter, in a day when no one gave a darn about sleep, diet, excecise or training....
just face it.....Bonds is no Babe Ruth, never will be, and the baseball world can just pretend that he has gotten stronger, more muscular as he ages because he is eating his Wheaties....
Bonds will forever be an asterick.......
its a shame that people can't grow old gracefully.....
yeah, but that terrible McGuire who took over the counter legal stuff....yeah, he's the bad one, right?
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