Baseball: giambi reportedly admits steroid use

jason giambi admitteed he took steroids obtained from balco, if this is true i think he should be immediatly banned for life from baseball

Report: Giambi testified he used steroids, human growth hormone


December 2, 2004
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- New York Yankees slugger Jason Giambi injected himself with human growth hormone in 2003 and also used steroids for at least three seasons, according to his grand jury testimony reviewed by the San Francisco Chronicle.

The testimony given in December 2003 to the federal grand jury investigating BALCO contradicts Giambi's public proclamations that he never used performance-enhancing drugs.

Giambi described how he injected human growth hormone in his stomach, testosterone into his buttocks, rubbed an undetectable steroid knows as ``the cream'' on his body and placed drops of another, called ``the clear,'' under his tongue, the Chronicle reported on its Web site Wednesday night


Giambi testified that he obtained several different steroids from Barry Bonds' personal trainer, Greg Anderson, who is one of four men indicted by the grand jury investigating the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative. He said he got the human growth hormone from a gym in Las Vegas.

Anderson's attorney, Tony Serra, declined comment to the Chronicle, citing a court order.

Anderson, BALCO founder Victor Conte, vice president James Valente and track coach Remi Korchemny all have pleaded not guilty to the charges, which include steroid distribution.

On Wednesday, a federal judge said she would not immediately dismiss the charges in response to accusations that prosecutors illegally searched BALCO headquarters and Anderson's house and car. U.S. District Judge Susan Illston said she may conduct hearings into the matter in January.

Giambi was among dozens of elite athletes -- including Bonds, Gary Sheffield and track stars Tim Montgomery and Marion Jones -- who answered the grand jury's questions last year. Bonds, Jones and Montgomery deny using illegal drugs, but Sheffield told Sports Illustrated and ESPN earlier this year that he used ``the cream'' and ``the clear'' from BALCO, which he said unknowingly to him contained illegal steroids.

The Chronicle reported in October that on a 9-minute recording it had obtained, a speaker the paper identified as Anderson is heard saying Bonds used an ``undetectable'' performance-enhancing drug during the 2003 season.

Giambi met Anderson when the trainer joined Bonds on an All-Star tour in Japan in November 2002. Giambi said he wanted to know what Bonds' secret for success was.

``So I started to ask him: 'Hey, what are the things you're doing with Barry? He's an incredible player. I want to still be able to work out at that age and keep playing,''' Giambi testified, according to the Chronicle. ``And that's how the conversation first started.''

After returning to the United States, Anderson told Giambi he could provide him with performance-enhancing drugs and suggested he stop taking the steroid Deca Durabolin that he obtained from the Las Vegas gym because it stays in the system too long, the paper reported. Giambi said he started using Deca Durabolin in 2001.

Giambi said Anderson never told him that Bonds used performance-enhancing drugs.

``You know, I assumed because he's Barry's trainer -- you know, Barry -- but he never said one time, 'This is what Barry's taking, this is what Barry's doing,''' Giambi testified. ``He never gave up another name that he was dealing with or doing anything with.''

Prosecutors confronted Giambi with a calendar seized from Anderson's home that detailed Giambi's schedule of drug use.

Giambi said he didn't notice a ``huge difference'' in his performance after starting to use illegal drugs.

Giambi came to spring training this year looking noticeably trimmer as baseball began a steroid-testing program that included punishments for the first time. Asked in February whether he had ever taken performance-enhancing drugs, Giambi said: ``Are you talking about steroids? No.''

Giambi won the AL MVP in 2000 for Oakland and signed a $120 million, seven-year free-agent contract with the Yankees after the 2001 season. He hit 155 homers from 1999-2002 and batted over .300 each season, but injuries slowed him down the last two years.

Bothered by a balky knee, Giambi hit just .250 in 2003. Giambi batted .208 and played in only 80 games last season, missing time because of a tumor, which the New York Daily News reported was in his pituitary gland. Medical experts told the Chronicle that Clomid, a drug Giambi said he thought Anderson had given him, can exacerbate a tumor of the pituitary gland.

Giambi's younger brother, Jeremy, who last played in the majors with Boston in 2003, also testified that he used performance-enhancing drugs given to him by Anderson, according to the Chronicle.

Something needs to be done. Ban for life? That might be a little harsh. But it certainly would get the message accross.

Of course, its not going to stop drug makers from designing these undetectable enhancers. Nor will it stop players from using the drugs to get that edge.

In regards to Barry Bonds, I do not care if he is taking illegal drugs. The man has one of the greatest eyes at the plate, and some very friendly umps from time to time. Steroids don't help you decide to swing at a pitch or not.

bonds is a great hitter but if he is juiced then all of his records and numbers are suspect, if he is on steroids and if the drugs add a few feet of distance to the ball should his records be counted? what if he breaks the all time home run record? this is an issue that baseball needs to act on and deal with, not keep sweeping it under the rug....

I agree, toej. But what to do about it? As crayon said, they are making enhancers more and more impossible to detect. I do think some of Bonds records are suspect. Not even I know what to do about this yet. When I figure it out, I'll post my answer.

I agree, this is a very serious admission.

I don't know what the penalty should be. I've heard a few times today that they technically have no right to penalize him as they were not outlawed at the time he has admitted to taking them. An ESPN magazine writer noted that Gaylord Perry has admitted many times that he doctored baseballs yet he is in the Hall of Fame.

We knew something was up when Giambi showed up for spring training this past season looking like a toothpick compared to his past physique?

As far as Bonds, I agree with both sides. I think his records are suspect indeed if he is taking performance enhancing drugs which give him an advantage with strength and power but at the same time he is an unbelievable hitter. As crayon noted, steroids cant make you a better hitter.

I think this revelation could start an avalanche.

Admitting to taking them and getting caught is two entirely different matters. They can't do anything to him untill he actually tests positive.

Originally posted by ProudAmerican

I think this revelation could start an avalanche.

PA sees the future...



[Edited on 12/3/2004 by Gibbs Baby!!!]

Hey ProudA and crayon, can't steroids make you hit the ball harder, creates some gappers, gets the ball through the infield faster, over or off the wall instead of being caught, etc. , etc. I am not ready to concede that steroids can't make you a better hitter, i.e., better average, production, etc.