THE 'ROID REPORT FOR THE WEEK OF NOV. 25

by Gary Gaffney, MD, Steroid Nation

Obviously Barry Bonds stories dominate any news on performance enhancing drugs (PEDs) this week, and likely for the weeks to come. Reports indicated Bonds ex-paramour, and ex-best friend appear poised to provide testimony against the slugger; Kimberly Bell and Steve Hoskins will both take the stand with key information in the perjury/obstruction trial. Dr. Aurthur Ting is one other key witness we identified at Steroid Nation; Ting allegedly accompanied Bonds to BALCO for blood tests. Ting is currently on probation for poor record keeping and for giving friends and athletes 'dangerous drugs'. Further, Ting's sons dropped out of USC football when one tested positive in 2006. The doctor's testimony might prove extremely interesting during the Bonds proceedings.

The Bonds trial games began with BALCO defendants like Victor Conte engaged in sparing with federal prosecutors. The indictment interrupted the Oakland A's pursuit of Bonds, as a likely DH for 2008.

The Barry Bonds phenomenon generated spoofs on Broadway, and a planned HBO movie; The Broadway musical is called "Chuckleball, Jailhouse Jocks". HBO purchased rights to "Game of Shadows" by Mark Fainaru-Wada and Lance Williams; veteran director Ron Shelton (Bull Durham, Tin Cup) signed on with HBO to manage the project. Reports says Bonds was not pleased.

MLB, meanwhile recorded record revenues in 2007. Even with the doping scandals -- Internet pharmacies, the Met batboy bust, and the ongoing BALCO grand jury -- fans poured into the ballparks during the season. However, the MLB front office, the individual team managements, and the players will be light sleepers until the Mitchell Report hits the streets. Leaks from MLB suggested there will be names in the report, some may be shocking to fans. Lastly, ex-MLB player Dan Serafini lands a 50 game suspended next year (should he be signed) for a steroids policy violation; Serafini blamed the positive test on his Japanese sports physician's treatment.

Olympic sports shared the doping spotlight with baseball. In the ongoing Marion Jones scandal, the International Athletic Associations Federation (IAAF) brought the guillotine down on Jones' career. The sprinter loses all honors, medals, and a substantial amount of prize money (700,000) since 2000. Yet to be determined would be the fate of Jones' relay teammates: to return medals or retain medals. Lastly, if Jones vacates the 2000 Sydney gold medal in the 100M, then another tainted athlete -- Katerina Thanou of Greece -- might ascend to the gold. Thanou allegedly faked a motorcycle accident before the 2004 Athens Olympiad as an excuse to withdraw; many feel she was avoiding doping tests. England's Christina Ohuruogu the world 400M champ this summer, was declared eligible for the 2008 Olympics; previously she sat out a year for missing 3 doping tests. Meanwhile Carl Lewis delineated a Draconian plan to deal with drug-cheats. Someone needs to right the ship; a Turkish 1500M champion was nailed doping despite her denials, when it was discovered her husband purchased the PEDs on a credit card.

Pro cycling suffered a blow when T-Mobile, a long time sponsor of a German cycling team, announced it had enough of the doped up pro tour. T-Mobile, sponsors of Tour de France winners like Jan Ullrich, must be reacting to problems on their own team, as well as with the 2006 Tour de France when winner Floyd Landis appears to have used exogenous testosterone. Landis recently announced his intentions to appeal to the highest level of sports justice - The Court of Sports Arbitration.

Doping stories even permeated the general culture: Blackwater security forces stand accused of juicing in Iraq, Texas will test high schoolers for roids, and the British are concerned about whithering testicles of the country's roided-up youth.

Leaving things somewhat 'hanging', we sign off until next week.