Patrick Arnold, a chemist who worked with the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative, said in an HBO Sports interview that Barry Bonds and Gary Sheffield took performance-enhancing drugs provided to them by the laboratory.
Bonds and Sheffield have denied knowingly using drugs provided by BALCO, and told that to a federal grand jury investigating the laboratory, according to leaked testimony. Bonds remains under investigation over concerns about his testimony.
Arnold is widely credited with creating “the clear,” a previously undetectable steroid that BALCO provided to athletes. In 2006, he pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute steroids, and was sentenced to three months in prison and three months of home confinement.
The HBO interview was shown Tuesday night on “Costas Now.” Arnold told Bob Costas, the show’s host, that he never met Bonds but often heard BALCO’S founder, Victor Conte, raving about Bonds’ performance on “the program.” When asked by Costas if “the program” included steroids, Arnold said: “I have a very strong feeling about it since he was on the program. And like everyone else, the program consisted of the clear.”
Conte denied telling Arnold he gave Bonds steroids.
“The program I created for Barry was a comprehensive nutritional supplementation regimen and had nothing to do with the clear or any other anabolic steroids,” Conte said.
Bonds, who was held out of the Giants’ starting lineup Wednesday night to rest his tired body, reportedly told the grand jury that he thought he was taking flaxseed oil, not the clear. Arnold challenged that and likened the liquid to “nontoxic antifreeze.” He added: “I guess it’s possible that Barry had never tasted flaxseed oil and said, ‘Well, I guess this is flaxseed oil.’ But it’s pretty hard to believe.”
Royals: Kansas City released struggling right-hander Scott Elarton, who has never regained his form since shoulder surgery sidelined him for the final 71 games of last season and the first 36 games this year.
Against the New York Yankees on Tuesday night, the former Lamar High School athlete lasted only 1 2/3 innings, giving up seven runs and six hits. His ERA rose from 9.17 to 10.46, and his record fell to 2-4.
“It’s about results here,” Elarton said after that game. “I’ve definitely recovered, but I’m not back to where I want to be.”
Athletics: Shortstop Bobby Crosby was placed on the 15-day disabled list with two nondisplaced fractures in his left hand.
Orioles: Closer Chris Ray (elbow) was placed on the DL.
Diamondbacks: A day after acknowledging the possibility he might not return this season because of his injured back, left-hander Randy Johnson said he will throw another bullpen session this week.
Mets: Outfielder Carlos Beltran strained an abdominal muscle during batting practice and is day to day.
Yankees: Slugger Jason Giambi (foot) is set to start a minor-league rehab assignment Friday night with Class-A Tampa (Fla.) and hopes to rejoin the team next week.
Brewers: Milwaukee acquired reliever Scott Linebrink from the San Diego Padres for minor-league pitchers Will Inman, Steve Garrison and Joe Thatcher.
Reds: Catcher David Ross (finger) is out indefinitely.
