Barry Bonds was randomly tested for steroids before Friday night’s game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. All major-league players must undergo a test as part of the drug prevention program between Major League Baseball and the Players Association.
“Go talk to all the other guys,” Bonds said before Saturday’s game. “I’m not the only guy who was tested. Why are you talking to me?”
Bonds was more forthcoming with a MLB.com reporter before Friday’s game.
“I’m glad this is finally happening,” he said. “They’ll get the results and it will clear my name. It’ll show that there’s nothing behind what I’ve been doing [on the field] all year.”
But Bonds, when he was read his comment, denied the implication that his name needed to be cleared.
“My name ain’t dirty,” Bonds said.
Bonds is having arguably his best year ever. He is leading the National League with a .371 batting average, has set records for walks (221) and intentional walks (116), and was on the verge of breaking his records for on-base percentage (.611) and OPS (1.445, on-base plus slugging percentage).
“We’re having a good year,” he said. “My year is pretty much the same as it’s been. I’m a few homers short of last year.”
Bonds has been under intense scrutiny since last winter, when he testified before a grand jury investigating the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative for the illegal sale of drugs. Bonds was further linked to the investigation when his friend and personal trainer, Greg Anderson, was indicted on charges of distributing steroids.
