THE 'ROID REPORT FOR THE WEEK OF DEC. 2

by Gary Gaffney, MD, Steroid Nation

The Barry Bonds circus parade continues on and on and on. If the Bonds trial begins in 2008, it may be the most hyped legal proceeding since OJ Simpson's LA circus years ago. Bonds, consistent front page news since BALCO broke back in 2003, will remain front and center in the media for at least the next 12-18 months or until the trial ends.

We harbor concerns that like the Lindbergh baby murder trial and like the OJ Simpson murder trial, that the Barry Bonds perjury trial will turn into such a media circus that justice cannot be administered. It appears that when gigantic celebrity becomes involved in a legal proceeding, that the notoriety interferes with the impartial delivery of a just settlement; people tend to focus on their pet issues -- money, privilege, race, authority, arrogance -- without thinking through the main issue.

Despite the notoriety of the Bonds indictment, Bonds stands accused of a 'white collar crime'; Bonds never committed an act of violence. The nation should keep this in perspective.

On to the week for Bonds. When Barry Bonds entered a plea of 'not guilty' to the charges of perjury and obstruction of justice stemming from his testimony in the BALCO grand jury, he guaranteed a spectacular trial littered with sports celebrities. We speculated on the potential witnesses from MLB stars like Jason Giambi and Gary Sheffield to everyday players like Benito Santiago. Track megastars Marion Jones and Tim Montgomery may join BALCO executives like Victor Conte on the witness stand. The head of the UCLA steroids lab Don Catlin, and Barry Bonds' physician Arthur Ting may be professional witnesses in the star-studded proceeding.

This week, it was apparent Bonds might not have thought through the entire episode: he has not retained a defense attorney with sufficient experience in federal trials, nor one with an impressive and intimidating resume. Further, Bonds and the Oakland A's seemed to be negotiating a contract for 2008 as if in a BALCO-vacuum.

Baseball continues the steroid intrigue with the impending release of the Mitchell Report. Leaks suggest that Mitchell may release his much anticipated report on PEDs and steroids in baseball Thursday of this upcoming week.

Rumblings at baseball's winter meeting included the usual trade rumors, but also the unusual steroid rumors. Concomitant with the Kansas City Royal's signing of juicer Jose Guillen, the MLB announced a crushing, devastating rap on the syringe for Guillen: a 15 day suspension (not even 15 games; 15 days). For using anabolic steroids, HGH, and other PEDs Jose Guillen will be on the sidelines for about 7-8% of the 2008 season. Oh yeah, and Guillen will make 36 million over 3 years; those 15 days in the hot tub should be sufficient deterrent for any baseball player thinking of juicing to jump-start his career, right?

The MLB also announced a 15 day suspension for heavy juicer Jay Gibbons (anabolic steroids, HGH, and HCG0. Gibbons went to the Doctor made me do it defense'. Jay, what doctor prescribed HCG, the hormone of pregnancy for you? In males HCG is used for undescended testicles...go figure.

Despite implicated in Internet pharmacy PED/steroids scandals. Rick Ankiel (Cardinals), Troy Glaus (Blue Jays), Gary Matthews Jr. (Angels), and Scott Schoeneweis (Mets) all avoided the MLB steroids suspension web. 'Insufficient evidence' was cited by MLB sources. Guillen and Gibbons must feel pretty special that they were nailed, while their doping colleagues skated on this one.

Cycling suffered through the usual PED stories: suicide, banished doctors, a retiring Tour de France doper (Vinokourev), and mass PED scandals. Top Euro cyclist Michael Rasmussen said when he was bumped off the 2007 Tour de France for some steroid/EPO type hanky-panky, he entertained suicidal thoughts; by truck or by rope was the question.

Spanish doctor Eufemiano Fuentes -- the allegedly corrupt sports physician heavily involved in Euro cycling's Operation Puerto scandal -- fled to the Canary Islands where he now waxes philosophical on doping and sports. So brave, so far away.

And lastly, Minnesota Vikings' DE Ray Edwards will get one big lump of purple coal for Christmas, as he sits the month of December after he violated the NFL's steroids policy. Ho ho ho.