If the prosecution and the defense will be facing a tough legal battle on March 21, the grand jury is not spared from this dilemma. The most awaited trial will commence on March 21 where Barry Bonds, the home run king, will try to prove that he did not commit perjury when he told investigators that he did not knowingly used anabolic steroids. While he is confident that he can beat government prosecutors, the world of sports will be watching closely the development of this case because of its impact in the field of sports especially in baseball.

Jury’s Limitation

Before the selection of the jury, Bonds’ lawyer already filed proposed instructions that would at least limit the jury’s interaction with the outside world particularly the internet. The defense lawyers know that the internet can be a handy source of information about the case of their client. This could, in one way or another, influence the decision of the jury. “There is so much on the Internet about this case that it seemed prudent to be explicit about the limits of what people can and can’t do,” Allen Ruby, Bonds’ lead lawyer, told the Mercury News.

The defense will try to convince the court to prohibit these juries in using information technologies that could give them other information about the steroid perjury case of Barry Bonds. Further, they also want the court to penalize those who will not follow the guidelines by contempt, jail or imposing fines.

Social Media Banned

Bonds’ lawyers consider the social media as a powerful threat in the grand jury’s unbiased decision. They already outlined some of the social media sites which should not be used by the juries like Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace. It also include communicating via telephone, email, instant messaging, Blackberry messaging, the use of iPhones and iTouches. The use of search engines such as Google and Yahoo should not be allowed. The lawyers believe that these can be used in searching information about Barry Bonds. And lastly, the lawyers want the court to prohibit the juries from using any other form of electronic communication for any purpose whatsoever.

Legal experts say that these requests are too much but the court may grant some of them because judges around the country already adopted similar instructions. This will help jurors avoid posting on social media sites their comments or reactions about a certain case. Judge Susan Illston already barred some material evidences in Barry Bonds’ case like the alleged positive test for steroids and other records that relate to the baseball slugger’s use of steroids. If a jury search in the internet, these information will come out which can alter the decision of the jury.

Voice Mails

Meanwhile, Bonds’ lawyers also tried to bar the introduction of voice mails he sent to his former girlfriend Kimberly Bell. The prosecution will use the recordings to show that the short tempered Bonds was into steroids. They believe it was a side effect of steroid use but the defense argued it doesn’t prove that Bonds used a performance enhancing drug. Judge Susan Illston will hear the arguments of both sides on March 17.

Football players Pat Williams and Kevin Williams were caught in 2008 using a banned substance and slapped with a 4-game suspension. The Minnesota Vikings defensive duo went to court to challenge the decision of the NFL. But after more than two years of legal battle, defensive tackle Kevin Williams is already tired and decided to rest his case.

Just recently, the Minnesota Court of Appeals denied their request to permanently block the 4-game suspension. The football league can now suspend them starting next season. The drug related suspension was not caused by a failed steroid test but for a diuretic substance known to mask the use of steroids. Both players contend that they don’t know Starcaps supplement contains the banned substance bumetanide.

Lawyer Confirmed Kevin Williams Concedes

The lawyer of Kevin Williams, Peter Ginsberg, confirmed to the media that his client is ending his legal battle against the NFL. “He’s just tired of litigation and dealing with these issues and having it hanging over him,” said Ginsberg.

In a statement given to the Star Tribune, Ginsberg also said that his clients (Pat and Kevin Williams) have shown enormous amount of dedication and courage in pursuing the case. “I understand Kevin’s feelings that he’s just had enough with the lawyers, the courts. There are important principles and protections for NFL players and Minnesota employees at stake,” said Ginsberg.

The NFL site reported that Kevin Williams’ estimated earnings in the next season is around $6 million. However, with the 4-game suspension, it would cost him at least $1.4 million. It is not yet clear if there are other reasons why Kevin Williams did not appeal the case in the highest court.

Pat Williams Left Fighting for the Starcaps case

Meanwhile, Pat Williams (who is now a free agent) will be pursuing this case alone. “Pat has decided, after much deliberation, to continue. What happened to those two men is unfair and egregious and we remain optimistic that at the end of this process justice will finally win out,” Ginsberg said. “He’s a fighter, and he wants to go out fighting,” he added.

Pat Williams already went to the Minnesota Supreme Court beating the 30 day deadline for an appeal. His lawyer estimated that it would take another 3 months before the court can make its decision on the appeal. With this, Pat’s suspension will be postponed again for another season.

Pat’s agent, Angelo Wright told the Pioneer Press that they still believe the court will rule in favor of Pat. “We feel this unique case merits further consideration. Therefore, it’s in Pat’s best interests to pursue this further. “He understands this is just part of the process,” Wright said.

The Minnesota Vikings is still mum whether they will re-sign the defensive player. Pat is the oldest defensive player in the last season. Other players who were also tested positive for bumetanide in 2008 were New Orleans Saints defensive end Will Smith and former linemate Charles Grant.

These players were not accused of taking steroids but they still violated the drug policy of the league.

Illegal entry of controlled substances are being closely monitored by customs and other law enforcement agencies in different countries. In India, authorities were surprised when an old woman was caught carrying controlled substances used for bodybuilding. A 62-year old woman was questioned by the authorities in Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport when they found several pills and injections which were not declared by the woman. They found out that these were anabolic steroids used for bodybuilding.

Based on the report of DNA India, custom officers found at least 500 tablets of steroids and injections of andrelon and testosterone. The woman came from Bangkok and was accompanied by her son-in-law. However, the authorities were hesitant in filing appropriate charges because of her age. It was also her first time to be involved in carrying banned drugs.

During the investigation, the grandma told the customs officials that the steroids are intended for her children who are into bodybuilding. The steroids which were allegedly purchased from Bangkok were labeled “only for animal consumption.” These veterinary steroids are commonly used in livestock to make them bigger but with leaner meat. Health authorities are concerned on the use of these drugs by bodybuilders because it can pose great health risks. Severe side effects could result from taking these animal steroids which may include heart, liver and kidney diseases.

But the apprehended woman had another explanation about the steroids caught in her possession. According to her, she was told that the steroids were good for the health. On the other hand, authorities had a different theory. The woman might have been used to illegally bring the substance in the country. They also believe that the son-in-law could be the culprit in an attempt to circumvent existing laws on purchasing controlled substances such as anabolic steroids. “It seems likely that it was her son-in-law’s plot but all the bags were tagged in her name and she owned up the responsibility. That’s why the panchnama has been filed in her name,” a source told the DNA India.

The estimated cost of single injection of testosterone could be from $100 to $200 according to the report. The total value of the confiscated steroids was not yet determined.

The use of anabolic steroids in India is also a growing problem of the law enforcement authorities as well as sports organizations. In the previous months, several Indian weightlifters were sanctioned for taking steroids. The use of steroids as an image enhancing drug is also becoming popular in the country. The number of young men and women using this bodybuilding drug is increasing based on recent studies.

There’s one good reason why the lawyers of Barry Bonds are not worried on the testimonies of former team mates and other baseball players who also worked with Greg Anderson. They don’t have a direct knowledge about the allege use of anabolic steroids of the former baseball slugger. These players only talk about their relationship with Greg Anderson, Bonds former trainer. The defense told the court in a filing that the government is using these witnesses to implicate Bonds in the use of steroids because of his association with Anderson.

The defense presented to the court 83 pages of grand jury excerpts from the BALCO investigation in December 2003. It includes the testimonies of baseball players summoned by a grand jury to shed light on the alleged use of steroids by several baseball players. However, these testimonies were centered on the trainer who gave them supplements and drugs to boost their performance. They were all talking about how Greg Anderson gave them products that were supposed to help them perform better in the field. But the prosecution will have a difficult time proving Bonds also used steroids because some of the baseball players were not sure if the products from Anderson were really steroids.

A lawyer from Anderson’s camp told the NY Daily News that the excerpts from the BALCO investigation showed that Anderson never told these baseball players on the government’s list of witnesses that the products were steroids. “Not one of the excerpts has an athlete saying, ‘Greg told me this is a steroid.’ The government wants them to testify to demonstrate a guilt by association,” Paula Canny said. “The government is saying, ‘They all knew (Anderson) provided steroids, therefore Barry knew.’ But the transcripts consistently show these witnesses saying the opposite thing,” she added.

Barry Bonds was also part of the BALCO investigation and he denied that he knowingly used anabolic steroids. However, his former trainer, Greg Anderson pleaded guilty to distributing designer steroids and already jailed for that offense. He also served another 6 months for contempt because he refused to testify against Bonds in another investigation. Judge Susan Illston warned the former baseball trainer that he will be facing contempt if he still refuses to testify against Bonds. However, Anderson has no plans on talking about his detailed work relationship with Bonds. Legal experts say that Anderson can put an end to this perjury case.

The NY Daily News qouted portions of the testimonies of former Yankees Gary Sheffield and Jason Giambi, former Jet and Patriot Larry Izzo and other players. When Sheffield was asked about the cream and the clear, the baseball player told the jury that Anderson never said to him that those were steroids. “No sir. (Anderson) just told me (the cream) was a massage cream you put on arthritic joints,” Sheffield said. He also told the jury that if he knows these were steroids, he would never take them.

Larry Izzo doesn’t recall any conversation about steroids with Anderson.”The word ’steroid’ I don’t recall,” he said. Benito Santiago, a former team mate of Bonds, said Anderson never told him that the clear was undetectable steroid.

On the other hand, Jason Giambi’s testimony shows that he might know the product was a performance enhancing drug but believed it was an alternative to taking steroids. Though Anderson told him that the product is undetectable in the test, the trainer did not discussed other details about the clear. “He didn’t really explain them. He just told me to take them. He explained it had something to do with my system. He didn’t go into depth about it,” Giambi told the jury.

Barry Bonds’ trial is scheduled on March 21 in a US District court in San Francisco.

The International Cycling Union (UCI) urged cycling teams to help them curtail the use of performance enhancing drugs in the sports. In a press conference held before the Paris-Nice starts, UCI president Pat McQuaid said he wants to end the “culture of the syringe” in professional cycling. This will include the use of legal injections such as vitamins and other non-banned substances. The sport has been plagued by steroid controversies for several years now and it persists even the governing body imposes stiff sanctions to doping athletes.

The UCI head disclosed that there was already a discussion of the issue between UCI medical representatives and team doctors. Right now, there are still some teams with lax policy on supplement injections which may lead to abuse of certain drugs particularly anabolic steroids. “We remember the syringes found in hotel rooms, and you know how much that contributes to tarnish the image of the sport,” McQuaid told the media.

According to VeloNation, McQuaid was referring to previous incidents where authorities raided hotel rooms and found infusion kits. These incidents happened in big events such as the Giro D’Italia and Tour de France. In fact an investigation was conducted by French OCASLESP (Central Office for the fight against environmental damage and for public health) on Team Astana regarding their possible involvement in doping. VeloNation reported that the result of that investigation has not been released to the public.

Banning injections could also protect the athletes from accidental doping. There are some cases where supplements contain banned substances. Cyclists injected with corticosteroids will be required to rest for 48 hours before allowing them to compete. Further deliberation on this proposal is expected but they may be able to agree on the terms before the Giro D’Italia starts.

Pat McQuaid also reacted on the alleged threat of the International Association of Professional Cycling Groups (AIGCP) regarding their request to equip the riders with radios. “Never in its history has the UCI succumbed to threats such as that. And I think it’s not going to happen this year either,” he said.

He admitted that delegates from the union went to the UCI headquarters in Aigle, Switzerland. However, the issue has not been settled. The UCI maintains its stand that the use of radio communications will interfere in the race but the union had a different view. They contend that radios will help cyclists to be safer on the road. On the other hand, McQuaid wants them to discuss more important matters such as doping and on how to improve the credibility of the sport.

Meanwhile, the UCI is still reviewing the case of Spanish cyclist Alberto Contador. The Tour De France champion tested positive for the steroid clenbuterol last year. However, he was cleared by the Spanish Cycling Federation when he appealed the case saying he ingested a steroid contaminated beef. According to McQuaid, the documents will be reviewed by their legal department and a decision will be made on March 24 whether they will appeal the case at the Court of Arbitration for Sport. “This is a very difficult case for cycling,” said McQuaid.

The World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) is also planning to appeal the case. Anti-doping experts argued that there are still no conclusive evidences that will prove contaminated beef will cause a positive steroid test.

Alberto Contador also asked the cycling organization and anti-doping authorities to carefully review his case before making a decision. Contador insists that he never used anabolic steroids. “I believe in the system, but they have to show that they believe us too,” he said.

If baseball would not give Jose Canseco a second chance, Donald Trump will. In the latest season of the popular TV reality show The Apprentice, the former baseball slugger will take another chance to fame. The casting for the new season includes celebrities from entertainment and music industry as well as from sports. But some people will wonder, what makes Canseco a good candidate for the Celebrity Apprentice? The answer is simple. Trump’s reality show searches for candidates who are controversial. Of course this will add spice to the show and get the interest of the viewers.

Aside from the ratings, the new edition of the Celebrity Apprentice will bring out the best in each participant regardless of their affiliations and personal preferences. The show started March 6 and aired on NBC network.

Before Canseco was black listed in the major league, he had a celebrity status. In fact his stats will put him in the Hall of Fame if not for the injuries that he suffered. And the worst decision that he made was opening the Pandora’s Box in the major league, the rampant use of steroids by baseball players.

Canseco wrote two books that chronicled his use of anabolic steroids and named several players, including some of his friends, who were also into steroids or other performance enhancing drugs. Though it was not illegal at that time, his revelations put the league into bad limelight. Some of the people that he named in the steroid books were forced to admit steroid use and others faced perjury charges for their continued denial for taking anabolic substances. Everybody knows what happened to Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, Roger Clemens, Alex Rodriguez, and Barry Bonds.

Although the life and career of Jose Canseco can be compared to a roller coaster, the baseball slugger tried everything to get back his normal life. Last month, Canseco tweeted that he still hopes the major league will give him another chance and promised that he can hit home runs even at the age of 46. He even challenged Rodriguez to a home run derby.

The launching of Canseco’s third book also hit the news. But this time, he explained that it will not tackle the issue of steroid use in baseball but will just focus on his life. Baseball fans will learn how he suffered after disclosing the widespread use of steroids in the league and the lesson he got from that decision.

This time Canseco will be tested on how far he can go in the Celebrity Apprentice. Though he is not new to reality shows, his decisions will be crucial to stay in the group. Many baseball fans will watch out for one thing. Will Canseco make the same mistake similar to what he did in baseball?

The former major leaguer will be helping his charity, the Baseball Assistance Team (B.A.T.). The organization assists minor league players who need financial and medical assistance.

The Apprentice (Celebrity Edition)

Team Backbone

David Cassidy
John Rich
Lil Jon
Mark McGrath
Richard Hatch
Meat Loaf
Gary Busey
Jose Canseco

Team ASAP

Dionne Warwick
Hope Dworaczyk
Lisa Rinna
Marlee Matlin
La Toya Jackson
Niki Taylor
Star Jones
NeNe Leakes