The biggest trial of the century was centered on Barry Bonds, America’s home run king. The baseball slugger was found guilty of obstruction of justice charge but was acquitted on other charges. In the four day deliberations, the members of the jury were divided on the issue whether Bonds really lied about his use of performance enhancing drugs like steroids and human growth hormones. They were all certain that Bonds failed to cooperate fully to the grand jury investigating BALCO, a company providing professional athletes with designer steroids.

The outcome was a big blow to the prosecution because they were not able to prove that the home run king lied about his steroid use. With so many resources spent on the investigation and a possible retrial on the case, critics were right that the government had a weak case against the baseball slugger.

If we look at the votes of the 12-man jury, the prosecution failed to provide enough evidences to convince them that Bonds should be sent to jail. The jury voted 8-4 in acquitting Bonds of lying about his steroids use and they voted 9-3 in acquitting him on lying about HGH use charge.

Possible Re-trial or Overturn Conviction

The lawyers of Bonds already seek to overthrow the conviction and may ask for a retrial. The prosecution, on the other hand, is silent whether they would agree to a retrial.

In the May 20 post-trial hearing set by U.S. District Judge Susan Illston, both the defense and the prosecution agreed to delay the hearing on the Barry Bonds case. The motion filed by the defense asking the judge to overrule the jury by declaring Bonds not guilty of obstruction of justice was reset next month.

June 17 Next Hearing

Both parties approved the June 17 court hearing to allow them to prepare and evaluate their next strategy on the case. “The parties agree that additional time is needed to evaluate the basis and need for post-trial motions, to evaluate witness availability in the event of a retrial and to ensure counsel has the time necessary” to prepare “in the event of a possible retrial,” said in a court filing this week.

If the conviction will not be overturned, Bonds may serve a 15 to 21 months prison term. However, in similar cases handled by Judge Susan Illston, the sentence is usually reduced to six months to 1 year home confinement. Bonds is the 11 defendant in the BALCO case. Some of the professional athletes who either pleaded guilty or convicted were cyclist Tammy Thomas, track coach Graham Trevor, Olympic track and field athlete Marion Jones and NFL defensive lineman Dana Stubblefield.

No Conviction, Easier Hall of Fame

Meanwhile, some baseball fans are asking whether Barry Bonds will still enter the Hall of Fame because of the conviction. Members of the baseball sports writers of America were divided on the issue. Some predicted that in due time, Barry Bonds will get the nod of the voters and this may also happen to Mark McGwire and Roger Clemens. And it will be easier for the voters if Bonds will be cleared of all the charges specifically his alleged use of designer steroids and human growth hormones.

People may ask what happened to some of their favorite riders in the on-going Giro d’ Italia. Some Italian riders failed to compete due to their involvement in a doping investigation. Well, this is not new in professional cycling. It is common in any competition, local or international, that a cyclist is investigated or sanctioned because of violations of the anti-doping policies of the sport.

Tour de France for example has been in the center of controversy because of Alberto Contador. He is the current champion in the tour but tested positive for steroids, a banned substance. In addition, the seven time Tour de France Champion Lance Armstrong is now the target of a federal investigation due to his involvement in suspicious contracts and alleged systematic doping.

Italian Team Added New Members for the Giro

Before the start of the Giro, the Italian team Lampre-ISD decided to re-shuffle its team members because of current doping investigation hurled against its staff and cyclists. The Cycling Weekly reported recently that Lampre’s manager and several of its riders are respondents in an investigation on an alleged team wide doping. The case which started last year was centered on a pharmacy in Mantova that is believed to be dispensing performance enhancing drugs to cyclists. According to the report, team manager Giuseppe Saronni, Sports Directors Maurizio Piovani and Fabrizio Bontempi encouraged their riders to go to Nigrelli’s pharmacy in 2008 and 2009. A total of 14 riders were implicated in the investigation.

The fate of the involved riders will be determined once Mantova Prosecutor Antonio Condorelli submitted to the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) the final result of the investigation. Saronni declined to comment on the issue when asked by the media. He wants to wait for the documents before making any official statement.

Riders Took HGH and EPO

However, the name of two riders implicated in the investigation came out in the media. An Italian newspaper reported that Alessandro Ballan and Marzio Bruseghin were found out taking performance enhancing substances in 2009. Ballan allegedly used human growth hormone (HGH), blood transfusions and erythropoietin (EPO). EPO is a blood boosting drug commonly used by cyclist to improve their endurance during competitions. Ballan is holding a world title in that year and may result to forfeiture of all his winnings if proven guilty of the accusations. He was already suspended by the team together with another cyclist Mauro Santambrogio.

Another rider who missed the Giro this year is Marzio Bruseghin. According to investigators he also used EPO. In 2008, Bruseghin finished 8th in the competition. Diego Caccia, a rider from the Farnese Vini was also prevented from participating in the event because of a related investigation. Caccia together with Giovanni Visconti and several riders from other teams were investigated by the authorities for their involvement in doping.

Cyclists Still In but Investigated for Doping

Michele Scarponi, Morris Possoni, Giovanni Visconti, and Evgeni Petrov were still allowed by their teams to compete in the Giro even if they were also named in the doping investigation in Padova. For example, Scarponi assured the team that he can complete the race without any legal impediments. These cyclists may have connections with Michele Ferrari, the former trainer of Lance Armstrong. Ferrari was banned by CONI from working with professional cyclists because of his tainted reputation as a distributor of doping products to riders.

Another controversial rider that is seen in The Giro d Italia is Alberto Contador. His doping case is still pending in the Court of Arbitration in Sports. He was caught using clenbuterol but claimed the substance came from a tainted meat he ingested during the Tour de France competition last year.

It is a good thing that more sports organization favors the inclusion of HGH testing in their anti-doping policies. Though this method has been in use for a long time in the Olympics, professional sports organizations only opened their doors to HGH testing in recent years. The MLB already started the program in the minor league and is planning to include it in the next labor talks.

A few football leagues already adopted HGH testing like the Canadian Football League (CFL) and the Australian Football League (AFL). However, the NFL is still lagging behind in its effort to prevent the use of growth hormones by its football players. NFL officials, nevertheless, assured the public that they will insist testing for HGH in the next labor negotiation.

PGA Tour Wants Golfers Checked for HGH

If major sports organizations are into the HGH testing craze, the PGA doesn’t want to be left behind. During a press conference held in TPC Sawgrass, PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem told the media about the possible inclusion of HGH in their anti-doping program. This will be a matter that will be discussed by the policy board soon.

The PGA Tour wants to include testing for human growth hormone to dispel the accusations that they are not sincere in curtailing the use of performance enhancing drug in golf. Though golf is not a physical and contact sports, critics still claim that many golfers use PED’s to improve their skills and performance during competitions.

It is a fact that anabolic steroid is not a drug of choice by golfers. However, there are some types of steroids that can help them increase stamina and improve swinging power. HGH, on the other hand, can help them recover faster from injuries. It helps repair muscle tissues at a faster rate. There are other benefits that can be associated with HGH supplementation which also include added vigor and stamina. All of these benefits put HGH into the classification of performance enhancers. Professional golfers can swing and hit stronger with precision as a result of taking these PED’s.

The Main Reason for Adopting HGH Test

Finchem also disclosed to the media that adoption of HGH testing is a step to prepare them for the 2016 Olympics. Golf will be included in the 2016 Olympics and all players are subjected to human growth hormone test. “It may be something that comes to our doorstep as part of golf entering the Olympics in ’16 because in that year there will be a pool of players who are eligible for the Olympics and they’ll be subject to whatever the standards are for the Olympic Games, which might be somewhat different than ours,” said Finchem.

Reliability of HGH Testing Still an Issue

The adoption of HGH testing in the PGA Tour may not be applauded by its members. Even the commissioner believes that the current method of testing is still unreliable. “If there is reliable testing available and it’s only blood, do we want to go to blood, which is another step,” said Finchem.

According to the commissioner, the move is needed to improve the integrity of golf. “We’re testing for a lot of stuff right now that quite candidly doesn’t make a difference, but we do it so our program has credibility in the anti-doping world. We’re supportive of the coalition to find answers on HGH on all these questions and we’ll see what develops over the next several years,” he added.

The US is not the only country in the world with intensified campaign against the importation, manufacturing and distribution of illegal substances and drugs. Spain for example is also doing its best to get rid of dangerous counterfeit and illegal drugs. The Spanish authorities continuously monitor and investigate any suspicious activities of foreign and local businessmen in the country.

Thousands of Steroids and Growth Hormones

A recent clampdown on illegal businesses in major cities by the Spanish law enforcement agencies revealed that the distribution of image and performance enhancing drugs are still rampant. Authorities reported that the series of raids and arrests in some major cities of the country resulted on the seizure of at least 700,000 doses of anabolic steroids, human growth hormones, and other controlled substances. It also leads to the arrest of 26 people including a manager of a cycling club.

The successful operation of the year-long investigation is considered as the largest bust of an international drug trafficking ring in Spain. According to online sources, the investigation started July last year when a company in Comunidad Valenciana was caught importing and selling large volume of controlled medicines. The company was also alleged to be transferring large sums of money to banks in China.

Nationwide Operation with Manufacturing Laboratory

Police raided 19 properties in different locations in Madrid, Southern and Eastern Spain. The estimated street value of all the drugs could reach up to 3.5 million euros. The bulk of these controlled substances were growth hormones, anabolic steroids and erectile dysfunction pills. They also discovered a laboratory and storeroom in Elche, Spain where human growth hormone allegedly imported from China were manufactured. The “generic” growth hormones from China are then turned into “commercial” product (HGH and HGC) and sold online.

Some of the people connected or running the illegal trafficking of controlled and doping drugs is of British citizenships. Seven British nationals who are considered leading members of the drug ring were arrested. To avert suspicion from the authorities, the suspects allegedly use intermediaries and storage facilities in Germany, Hungary and the UK. Their main source of steroids and growth hormones are China, Turkey and India. The drug ring members have distribution centers in Alicante, Malaga and Madrid according to the authorities.

Official of A Cycling Club Caught with EPO

Police officers also arrested an officer of a cycling club. This is not surprising since most of the doping products confiscated were commonly used by professional cyclists. However, the involvement of a general manager of a master’s cycling team created a buzz in the sports of cycling. Authorities are still mum on the identity of the manager. They only gave a hint that the members of the cycling team were several former world and European champions.

Police said that the cycling official was arrested when he received a significant amount of EPO. The drug is popular in professional cycling because it boosts the oxygen levels in the blood thus enhancing their endurance during races. The arrest will put more pressure on the anti-doping authorities in Spain to be more stringent in catching cheating athletes. This could also lead to another investigation in cycling if the manager discloses his clients.

The judge in the steroid perjury case of Roger Clemens want to be sure that he will not commit an error in allowing the defense to use confidential information from the law firm DLA Piper. The firm handled the steroid investigation in the MLB. Their findings were contained in the controversial Mitchell Report which implicated several baseball players including Roger Clemens.

The defense requested pertinent documents from the law firm and at the same time from the Congressional committee who also conducted an inquiry on the rampant use of performance enhancing drugs in the major league. Judge Reggie Walton already ruled that Clemens can’t use the documents from the House committee on Oversight and Government Reform because it is covered by the separation of the legislative and judiciary. On the other hand, Walton asked the law firm to provide him at least 20 documents allegedly protected by client-lawyer privileges for further scrutiny.

Judge Want to Meet Lawyers Present in the Meetings

In the latest hearing on the case, Walton decided to summon the lawyers present during the investigation of baseball players in 2007. The documents on his hands failed to give him sufficient information to rule on the issue. “The court must conduct a further inquiry of all current DLA Piper attorneys that were present during these interviews and who played some role in creating the documents at issue,” the judge said. Though the controversial steroid report was named after Sen. George Mitchell, who was a partner of the law firm at that time, online reports revealed that majority of the report was written by Charlie Scheeler.

The judge wants to learn more about the meetings conducted in 2007 by lawyers of the DLA Piper. These were the interviews with Brian McNamee, a key witness in the Roger Clemens case and Kirk Radomski, a steroid dealer who supplied McNamee with performance enhancing drugs. McNamee alleged that he injected these PED’s on Clemens.

A hearing on June 8 was set by Judge Walton.

In the previous hearing, the defense tried to portray Brian McNamee as a liar and deceived the investigators. They argued that the former trainer of Roger Clemens gave conflicting statement to the investigators. This is the reason why they want the transcript of the memos and interviews with McNamee. If the defense can prove that point, the reputation of McNamee as a key witness of the prosecution will be ruined.

The multi-awarded pitcher is facing 1 count of obstructing a congressional investigation, 2 counts of perjury, and 3 counts of making false statements. Clemens denied that he ever used anabolic steroids or human growth hormone. On the other hand, McNamee told investigators that he personally injected the pitcher on several occasion with HGH and even provided material evidences to prove his claims.

Decision on Confidential Documents Crucial

Clemens is the last big fish the government wants to send in jail. They only achieved partial victory in the Barry Bonds case when the jury convicted the baseball slugger on only one count and declared mistrial on the other charges. If Judge Walton finds the document relevant to the case, this could lead to another failure of the prosecution.

The jury selection in Clemens case is scheduled on July 6.

The Australian Football League (AFL) is committed to clean their sport at all cost. Aside from the regular anti-doping program, they recently implemented target testing to ensure no player in the league plays boosted with performance enhancing drugs. The AFL and the ASADA included in the drug testing some popular performance enhancing substances like EPO, CERA, and HGH. All of these can dramatically improve the endurance of the player and helps in faster recovery from training and injuries.

Erythropoietin or EPO and CERA are blood boosting drugs which became popular in the 1990’s. These are commonly used in endurance sports particularly in professional cycling. Many cyclists have already been sanctioned for using EPO. HGH, on the other hand, is also a choice of many athletes because it is not yet detected in urine tests. There are only a few sports organizations that tests for HGH using blood testing methods.

AFL the First League to Adopt HGH and EPO Testing

The AFL can be considered as one of the few sports organization in the world that implements stringent drug testing policy. In the last 15 months, they intensified their blood profiling program by doing double testing on high profile players. Adrian Anderson, the AFL operations manager, told The Footy Show that unannounced tests were conducted by the ASADA on some high achiever players including those who have a sudden improvement of performance in the field. The AFL official claimed that the league is the first professional sport to test for human growth hormone and EPO.

Anderson said he is confident that their players are not violating the rules but they still have to be sure that no one evades their drug policies. “You can never be 100 per cent sure on these things, which is why you need to make sure we are doing everything we possibly can to protect the integrity of our sport,” he said.

ASADA Doing the Lab Work

Target testing is being done through the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) which follows the standards used by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). The unannounced random test for HGH and EPO are made throughout the year. Cheating players can be easily caught with this system. According to a health expert, the blood boosting EPO and HGH stay in the player’s system for 36 hours so it is very difficult to anti-doping officials to detect these drugs. The AFL said that at least 20 to 30 players are being tested for EPO and HGH each year.

What Triggers HGH and EPO Tests?

Though football players may test negative for anabolic steroids, AFL may still suspect them for using other performance enhancing drugs. Some of the basis for target testing is the sudden changes in the performance and physical changes. Other factors are also considered to make the program more effective.

AFL Promise to be One Step Ahead

The ASADA commended the AFL for spearheading a comprehensive anti-doping program. The league constantly works with ASADA to help the league in its anti-doping crusade. “The AFL, with our medical commissioners, Dr Peter Harcourt and Dr Harry Unglik, constantly works with ASADA to review our anti-doping strategy, to make sure it is in line with the leading anti-doping trends and work in international sports,” Anderson told the media.

The football league wants to ensure that the sport is played on the basis of skills and natural level of fitness. They want to be an example in the Australian football by denouncing the use of performance enhancing drugs.