SAN FRANCISCO, 20 November 2003 — Barry Bonds defended his personal trainer Greg Anderson when he was grilled about an escalating doping scandal that has rocked the sporting world.

The San Francisco Giants slugger, who claimed a record third consecutive National League MVP honor, also welcomed an investigation into the use of steroids in baseball.

Bonds said he was unaware of Anderson having any involvement with banned drugs.

“Greg Anderson and I are childhood friends, we grew up together,” Bonds, one of baseball’s all-time great hitters, said during a teleconference on Tuesday.

“To me a man is innocent until proven guilty and we are friends and have always been friends.”

Anderson is a target of the federal grand jury investigating BALCO, a Bay Area laboratory believed to be at the heart of a scandal around the new designer steroid THG (tetrahydrogestrinone).

For three years BALCO provided Bonds with nutritional supplements.

“I can’t answer any questions about Greg Anderson, I don’t know what a person does after he leaves me,” Bonds said.

“I really don’t know anything and I refuse to get the answers because I don’t want to know anything. If I don’t know anything, I don’t have nothing to say about it.”

Anderson was questioned by federal officials following a Sept. 3 raid on BALCO’s headquarters.

Subpoenaed to appear before the grand jury on Dec. 4, Bonds will join a parade of high-profile athletes, including the world’s fastest man Tim Montgomery, who have been called to testify.

Four US track athletes and European 100 meters champion Dwain Chambers of Britain have tested positive for the drug, which until this year was undetectable.

It is feared that many sportsmen and women, including those in US professional sports, may have used THG.

Bonds set the major league single season home run record with 73 and is a six-time MVP. He has steadfastly maintained that he has never knowingly taken steroids or performance-enhancing drugs.

In recent years, the 39-year-old slugger has continued to defy age and put up unprecedented numbers while he continued his march toward baseball’s most cherished mark — Hank Aaron’s all-time homer record.

Blue Jays Add Lilly Hours After Hentgen Deal

The Toronto Blue Jays shored up their pitching staff Tuesday, acquiring left-hander Ted Lilly from the Oakland Athletics hours after signing free agent Pat Hentgen.

Former Cy Young Award winner Hentgen signed a one-year contract earlier Tuesday.

Hentgen will receive $2.2 million for the 2004 season as he hopes to continue his comeback from arm problems in the city where he has had his greatest success.

The 35-year-old pitched last season with the Baltimore Orioles, who declined his option for 2004.

The Blue Jays need pitching depth behind 2003 Cy Young Award winner Roy Halladay and are hoping Hentgen can regain the form that helped him win the Cy Young with the Jays in 1996.

Last season Hentgen had a 7-8 record and 4.09 ERA with the Orioles. He has a lifetime record of 129-103 with a 4.21 ERA, 105 of those wins coming in a Blue Jay uniform, the fourth highest career win total in franchise history.

Hentgen had Tommy John surgery in August 2001 and his recovery has been a gradual process. He started slowly last season but rebounded in the second half of the year without any arm problems.

The Blue Jays sent outfielder Bobby Kielty to the A’s in return for Lilly, along with cash or a player to be named later.

Lilly went 14-10 with a 4.34 ERA as Oakland’s fourth starter last season.

Kielty hit .244 with 13 homers and 57 RBI last season with Toronto and Minnesota after being acquired for outfielder Shannon Stewart. In three major league seasons, Kielty has 27 home runs, 117 RBI and a .367 on-base percentage.