Bonds trial: Ballplayers on deck to testify

[March 29, 2011]  SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- The Giambi brothers are likely to lead a parade of ballplayers taking the witness stand in the Barry Bonds perjury trial.

It's expected that Jason and Jeremy Giambi will be the first of several athletes called to testify, possibly as soon as Tuesday afternoon. The brothers have both admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs they obtained from Bonds' personal trainer, Greg Anderson.

Federal prosecutors also are expecting to briefly question two witnesses who will testify to the "chain of custody" of Bonds' Major League Baseball-mandated urine sample in 2003. Prosecutors allege that the sample tested positive for a designer steroid.

Former San Francisco Giants trainer Stan Conte also is slated to testify about Bonds before prosecutors turn their attention to the ballplayers.

Other athletes who are on the government's witness list include several former teammates of Bonds: Armando Rios, Benito Santiago, Bobby Estalella and Marvin Benard.

In addition, former Oakland Athletic Randy Velarde is scheduled to testify immediately after the Giambis. All the players except Jason Giambi, who is with the Colorado Rockies, have retired.

All the players will testify about their ties to Anderson, who is in jail on contempt of court charges for refusing to testify at the trial.

Bonds, MLB's record-holder for home runs in a career (762) and a season (73), is accused of lying to a federal grand jury for testifying in 2003 that he never willfully used performance-enhancing drugs.

Prosecutors hope to use the players' testimony to bolster their position that Bonds knowingly used steroids obtained from Anderson.

On Monday, former Bonds mistress Kimberly Bell spent much of the day on the witness stand, testifying that Bonds blamed a 1999 elbow injury on steroid use, and that the body and behavior of the home run king changed during their nine-year relationship.

She described being threatened by Bonds and said he claimed steroid use was widespread in baseball.

Bonds' defense team tried to portray Bell as a jilted girlfriend who was out for money and had reason to try to embarrass their client.

[Associated Press; By PAUL ELIAS]

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.