A few weeks ago, Bonds’ lawyers filed a motion to bar the witnesses of the prosecution from testifying against the former baseball slugger because of their connection with Greg Anderson, Bonds former personal trainer. Many legal experts who are following the case opined that exclusion of these witnesses will weaken the case against Barry Bonds. A lawyer even predicted that the government may just drop the steroid perjury case for lack of evidences.

However, those who predicted an early win for Bonds were wrong. United States District Court Judge Susan Illston ruled Friday that the prosecution can call all their witnesses. Some of them are former and current baseball players like Jason Giambi, Benito Santiago, Randy Velarde, Jeremy Giambi, Marvin Benard, Armando Rios and Bobby Estalella. A former football player can also testify against Bonds. The prosecution wants to prove that these players used anabolic steroids under the instructions of Greg Anderson who was also the personal trainer of Bonds. They alleged that these witnesses can discuss about Anderson’s training and steroid regimen for players.

In the hearing, federal prosecutor Matthew Parrella explained to Judge Illston how Anderson provided these players with detailed instructions and explained to them that they were taking steroids. Bonds’lawyer Dennis Riordan countered this argument. He said that it would be “an absolutely inadmissible inference” if the jury concluded that Bonds was also given steroids because Anderson gave these PED’s to other athletes.

The prosecution will also call to the witness stand Bonds former girlfriend Kimberly Bell. They said that Bell could prove Bonds used steroids because of the physical changes that happened to the slugger. Some of these side effects that Bell noticed were acne, hair loss, bloating and shrinking testicles. Steve Hoskins will also testify against his former business partner. Hoskins alleged that Bonds admitted to him his steroid use. He also had a tape conversation with Greg Anderson where the latter told him he injected Bonds with steroids.

The defense said they are not worried on the latest decision of Judge Illston. The judge still barred previously excluded evidences like the alleged positive drug tests of Bonds and the doping calendars. These evidences are inadmissible because it can’t be authenticated by Anderson who refused to testify. Anderson will be called again by the court but his lawyers have already said that their client will not testify against Bonds. If this happens, Anderson will be spending his third jail term for contempt. Other steroid related evidences will be admitted in court only if the prosecution can bring someone who can authenticate these evidences.

Legal experts said that last Friday’s decision was a victory for the prosecution. Peter Keane, a law professor told the NYTimes that the recent ruling will bolster the case against Bonds. “I think that hurts Bonds a lot, and I think it’s something the jury is going to find fairly important in determining that Bonds used steroids and other drugs,” the professor said. “It targets in on Bonds in a way that shows the jury that he was using drugs and he knew he was using them. It’s another brick in the wall of the prosecution’s case,” Keane added.

Another hearing is scheduled on February 11. Both parties will argue whether the secretly taped conversation of Steve Hoskins should be admitted in court. Hoskins said that Anderson told him about the steroid injections on Bonds. The trial is set on March 21.

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