SAN FRANCISCO, 22 October 2003 — American sprinters Marion Jones and Tim Montgomery and baseball heroes Barry Bonds and Jason Giambi are among 40 sports figures subpoenaed to testify in this week’s federal grand jury steroid probe.
And while the investigation is centered on possible tax violations by Victor Conte and his BALCO nutritional supplement laboratory, the result could be the exposure of a doping program with a previously undetectable “designer” steroid. Montgomery, the “World’s Fastest Man” after his 100-meter world record last year in Paris, and Jones, the 100m and 200m Sydney Olympic champion, are among those called to testify, the New York Daily News reported.
Giambi, a star slugger for the New York Yankees in this week’s World Series, and Bonds, the single-season home run king for the San Francisco Giants, have also been called, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.
“I didn’t do anything wrong,” Giambi said Monday. Kelli White, a US sprinter who won two gold medals at the World Athletics Championships in August at Paris, has told the Washington Post she will testify. US shot putter Kevin Toth also will testify, the Post reported. The US Anti-Doping Agency touched off the scandal last week by announcing discovery of a steroid previously undetectable and saying several US national track championship competitors tested positive for tetrahydrogestrinone (THG). USA Track and Field chief executive officer Craig Masback, speaking on ESPN Monday night, tried to characterize the problem as potentially minor even as anti-doping officials proclaim it a major crisis.
“It’s too early to tell,” Masback said. “This is only a few people who are involved in the program. Our sport has to go forward, invite whistle-blowers to tell how they were able to do it.
“It’s not a track problem or a baseball problem,” Masback said. “It’s a national problem.” Doping tests at events already conducted could be subject to review by various global governing bodies, including the IAAF World Championships.
Giambi told the Chronicle and Daily News that he has visited Conte’s lab to ask about nuritional supplements and knows Greg Anderson, Bonds’ personal trainer who is tied to the investigation. Vials with anabolic steroids, testosterone and human growth hormones were seized in raids by federal officials of the BALCO labs, Anderson’s residence and a lab storage facility, the paper reported. Giambi, a first baseman, said his visit to BALCO came around the time he and Bonds were joining other major league players on a tour of Japan. “I just asked about some vitamins and supplements and stuff like that, no big deal,” Giambi said.
Bob Alejo, Ciambi’s personal trainer, told the Chronicle that “we’re always looking for an edge, always. In training, supplementation, diet. It’s not right to enhance your performance the wrong way.”
“Jason is interested in the top players and what they do to stay on top.” Alejo told the News, saying Giambi was curious about Bonds’ fitness regime. “I think he’s motivated to find things out by what Barry does on the field.” Seven American football players and at least three other baseball players are expected to testify but have not been identified. US sports leagues are set to take action. A National Football League spokesman said American football could ban the new drug by the end of the year.
Rob Manfred, a Major League Baseball vice president, said officials would try to add the new steroid, known as THG, to the banned list if it is confirmed as a “designer” steroid.
National Basketball Association officials were just beginning to look into the matter. “We’re anxious to learn more but we don’t want to rush to judgment,” NBA Commissioner David Stern said Monday.
“We have been reading about it,” assistant commissioner Russ Granik said. “The league has not received any inquiry and I’m not aware of the involvement of any teams or players.”
