Barry Bonds does not deny positive test

San Francisco Giants slugger Barry Bonds said Thursday that he did not get amphetamines from teammate Mark Sweeney, but did not deny a report claiming he tested positive for the drugs last season.

According to a story in the New York Daily News, Bonds failed an amphetamines test in 2006.

The newspaper reported that, when first informed of the positive result, Bonds attributed it to a substance he had taken from Sweeney's locker.

"He is both my teammate and my friend," Bonds said in a statement released Thursday.

"He did not give me anything whatsoever and has nothing to do with this matter, contrary to recent reports. I want to express my deepest apologies, especially to Mark and his family as well as my other teammates, the San Francisco Giants organization and the fans."

Bonds, shadowed by steroids allegations and only 22 home runs from breaking Hank Aaron's career home run record of 755, said nothing more about the alleged positive drug test.

Bonds has steadfastly denied using performance-enhancing drugs.

"Obviously, we're pleased that Barry has straightened this out," said Sweeney's agent, Barry Axelrod.

Bonds's reported positive test could be another snag in contract negotiations with the Giants.

The sides reached a preliminary agreement on a one-year, $16 million US contract on Dec. 7, but the seven-time most valuable player still hasn't signed the deal or taken the mandatory physical that is part of the process.

The sides have been working to finalize complicated language in the contract that concerns the left fielder's compliance with team rules as well as what would happen were he indicted or have other legal troubles.

"Last night was the first time we heard of this recent accusation against Barry Bonds," the Giants said in the statement.

"Under Major League Baseball's collective bargaining agreement with the Major League Baseball Players' Association, clubs are not notified after a player receives a first positive test for amphetamines."

Rob Manfred, baseball's executive vice-president for labour relations, refused comment.

"I do not comment on the drug program, and I have never heard Barry Bonds blame anybody for anything," Gene Orza, the union's chief operating officer, said in an e-mail to the Associated Press.

San Francisco's front office and fan base have long stood by Bonds through his off-the-field problems and injuries.

So have his teammates, deciding in spring training last year to support him every step of the way.

"There are so many substances out there right now, you don't know what you should take or what you should not," Giants shortstop Omar Vizquel said Thursday. "Right now, I'm afraid to take vitamins for the same reason.

"You don't know what's going to be positive or what's going to be negative. The best way for players is to stay natural.

"Anything with chemicals in it can be bad. I know what I do.

"I don't know what the other guys do and I don't really care. I tell the younger guys, but you don't need to be telling Barry Bonds and Mark Sweeney what they should take or what they should not."

Uppers oncecommonplace

There is a long history of amphetamines — more commonly called "greenies" in the baseball world — fuelling generations of baseball players.

Many turned to the stimulants for a way to get pepped up when their bodies couldn't do so on their own during a long season.

The pills, widely used even until recently, helped with energy for day games following night games and other times when players were short on sleep, such as after a long cross-country flight.

Baseball banned the uppers for the first time starting last season.

A player is not identified until after failing two amphetamines tests, which also results in a 25-game suspension.

A first failed steroids test, by comparison, is a 50-game suspension.

A first amphetamines offence, however, does require six additional drug tests over the following six months.

Bonds did not appeal the positive test, according to the Daily News, which said Sweeney learned of Bonds' positive test from Orza.

The newspaper reported Orza told Sweeney he should remove any troublesome substances from his locker and should not share said substances.

Sweeney then said there was nothing of concern in his locker.

Before Bonds's statement, Axelrod told AP that his client received a call informing him that his name had come up in regard to the testing.

"He responded at that time … he did not give anything to anybody and he doesn't have anything illegal," Axelrod said. "That was the end of it, as far as we were concerned, until yesterday.

"We thought it was just a sort of procedural thing."

A federal grand jury is investigating whether Bonds perjured himself when he testified in 2003 in the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative steroid distribution case that he hadn't knowingly taken any performance-enhancing drugs.

He told that 2003 grand jury he believed his trainer, Greg Anderson, had given him flaxseed oil and arthritic balm, not steroids.

Bonds, Giants feeling positive

Bonds, who's coming off October surgery on his troublesome left elbow, played regularly in 2006.

After missing all but 14 games in 2005 following three operations on his right knee, Bonds batted .270 in 130 games with 26 home runs and 77 runs batted in last year.

He passed Babe Ruth to move into second place on the career homer list on May 28.

Bonds has spent 14 of his 21 major-league seasons with San Francisco and helped the Giants draw three million fans in all seven seasons with them.

The team is counting on him to be part of the hype leading up to its hosting of the all-star game this July.

Bonds said he noticed an improved vibe in the clubhouse last season with the additions of Steve Finley, Sweeney and Todd Greene.

The slugger was more sociable, too, playing cards or chess with his teammates or trainers before games and even making a rare appearance in the team photo.

Bonds and Sweeney appeared to be good friends, with Sweeney speaking to the slugger by phone recently this off-season.

"This year, we had the best chemistry on the team," Vizquel said. "I felt like the team was clicking.

"It's sad a stupid instance like this might rupture something that was going pretty good. I don't think the players will turn on each other.

"We are a veteran team. We should know what [substance] is good and what is bad."