SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - A star government witness in the Barry Bonds perjury trial took the stand Wednesday morning and testified that the slugger ordered him in 1999 to research the effects of a steroid.
Steve Hoskins and Bonds grew up together in San Mateo County. As adults, Hoskins had a bitter falling out with Bonds while serving as his business partner.
Hoskins said he initially served as a kind of valet when Bonds began playing with the San Francisco Giants in 1993, lugging equipment to the ballpark and running personal errands for the slugger.
Under questioning from federal prosecutor Matt Parrella, a jittery Hoskins testified that in 1999 Bonds ordered him to research the benefits and side effects of the steroid Winstrol.
“He said ’find out what this steroid does and what the side effects are and is it good or bad,’” Hoskins said. Bonds told him to consult with Dr. Arthur Ting, Bonds’ personal surgeon who is also scheduled to testify for the government.
The order came after Bonds had elbow surgery that early that season, which caused him to miss seven weeks.
The judge ordered a routine 15 minute break before Hoskins testified further about steroids.
Bonds, the all-time major league leader in home runs with 762, is accused of four counts of lying to a federal grand jury and one of obstructing justice for testifying in 2003 that never knowingly took performance-enhancing drugs.
In opening statements on Tuesday, Bonds’ lead attorney acknowledged that the slugger did indeed take steroids but claimed that the hitter’s personal trainer misled him about what the substances were.
Earlier, Hoskins testified that he occasionally gave cash payments in the thousands of dollars to two women Bonds was dating during his San Francisco Giants playing days.
Hoskins also testified he paid Bonds’ personal trainer, Greg Anderson, on behalf of the player. Prosecutors allege that Anderson supplied Bonds with performance-enhancing drugs.
Hoskins was called after the government’s lead sports doping investigator finished testifying during the third day of trial.
Jeff Novitzky, an agent with the Food and Drug Administration, discussed which government officials created the transcripts of a recording made by Hoskins. Hoskins was expected to discuss the recording _ which is of a conversation he had with Anderson _ in detail on the witness stand.
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