Star Witness Testifies Against Barry Bonds

Star government witness Steve Hoskins testified against Barry Bonds on Wednesday morning, saying that the former Major League Baseball player asked him to research the effects of a steroid back in 1999, when Bonds was playing for the San Francisco Giants.

Barry Bonds is currently standing trial on four counts of lying to a federal grand jury and one count of obstructing justice for having testified, in 2003, that he never knowingly took performance-enhancing drugs.

Bonds' attorney acknowledged on Tuesday that Bonds had indeed taken steroids during his famed playing career, but he argues that Bonds' personal trainer had misled him about what the substances were.

Hoskins and Bonds grew up together, but as adults, they had a falling out while Hoskins was serving as a business partner to Bonds.

Under questioning from a federal prosecutor, Hoskins said, "[Bonds] said 'find out what this steroid does and what the side effects are and is it good or bad.'"

Hoskins also testified that he paid Bonds' personal trainer, Greg Anderson, on behalf of Bonds. Prosecutors are arguing that Anderson supplied Bonds with performance-enhancing drugs.

Barry Bonds is a former professional left fielder who is widely regarded as the greatest hitter of all time. With 762 home runs to his name, Bonds is currently the all-time leader in career home runs. He also holds the records for most home runs in a single season with 73, most MVP titles with 7, and most consecutive MVP titles with 4.

(Sources: Associated Press)

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