Last year, nonetheless. And he blamed it on Sweeney. What a dumbass. Report: Bonds failed test for amphetamines By T.J. Quinn NEW YORK DAILY NEWS Barry Bonds, already under investigation for lying under oath about his steroid use, failed a test under Major League Baseball's amphetamine policy last season and then initially blamed it on a teammate, the New York Daily News has learned. Under the policy, which went into effect only last season, players are not publicly identified for a first positive test. But according to several sources, when first informed by the MLB Players Association of the positive test, Bonds attributed it to a substance he had taken from the locker of teammate Mark Sweeney. Sources did not identify the drug in question but characterized it as a serious stimulant. ... Bonds, who has long defended himself against steroid accusations by saying he "never failed a drug test," did not appeal his positive test but was immediately subject to an additional six drug tests by MLB during the next six months. Sweeney declined comment, but his agent, Barry Axelrod, told The News, "Mark was made aware of the fact that his name had been brought up, but he did not give Barry Bonds anything and there was nothing he could have given Barry Bonds." Bonds was not punished for his transgression but instead was referred to treatment and counseling. While amphetamines are considered performance-enhancing drugs, they are treated differently than steroids under baseball's drug policy. Had Bonds failed a steroid test, he would have been suspended for 50 games, but under baseball's amphetamine policy no one is publicly identified or suspended until a second positive, which would result in a 25-game suspension. A player is suspended for 80 games for a third positive. ... Sources said Sweeney, a first baseman/outfielder, first heard about the test when Gene Orza, the chief operating officer of the players association, called to say the player's name had been dragged into the controversy. Orza told Sweeney that if he had anything troublesome in his locker, he should remove it and that he should not be sharing substances with other players. Sweeney told Orza that there was nothing in his locker that would be of concern, sources said. Axelrod would not comment on the conversation between Orza and Sweeney. Orza also refused to comment on what he said to Sweeney or about Bonds' failed test but added, "I can say unequivocally in my 22 years I've known Barry Bonds, he has never blamed anyone for anything." Sweeney apparently confronted Bonds, and Bonds told him that Orza had misunderstood, that he had not intended to implicate his teammate. Full report: http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/16433454.htm
Bongs is a true American and those amphetamines were planted in his Jamba Juice smoothie by Communist spies.
Shocked, I tells ya. I've not heard anybody explain why the long-term use of amphetamines in baseball is looked at with a blind eye by the fans & media while the Great Steroid Witch Hunt continues unabated, with all the mushy wailing and gnashing of teeth about the Hall of Fame, striking records, banning players, etc. Won't someone please think about the children? Even more shocked that Bonds's first reaction was to throw his teammate under the bus.
If they wanna keep people out of the Hall because of greenies, you'll be able to hear crickets chirp in there.
I can tell you from experience that the, "Hey Dad that stuff isn't mine" excuse doesn't work. Never has, never will.
