Illegalities of Barry Bonds' Steroid Use

Learn about the illegality of Barry Bonds' steroid use. Once known for hitting more home runs than any other Major League Baseball player, Bonds' illustrious sports career was overshadowed by an indictment of making false statements in front of a federal grand jury. These statements were made when questioned about his steroid use.

Charges against Bonds

In November of 2007, Barry Bonds was indicted on charges from 2003, impeding an investigation of the use of performance enhancing drugs by major league elite athletes. Bonds was charged with intentionally giving misleading and false answers during his testimony. It was felt by the jury that Bonds had deliberately avoided answers about whether or not his former trainer, Greg Anderson, had ever injected him with steroids. Although Bonds stated that he believed he was receiving flaxseed oil and arthritis balm, the prosecutors presented that the people in Bonds' inner circle were aware of his steroid use. Several of these people involved in Bonds' life testified against him.

Barry Bonds' conviction

On April 11, 2011, Bonds was acquitted of three charges against him, and was only convicted of a count of obstruction of social justice. Bonds' conviction was the last of 11 convictions of a crime that was a result of steroid distribution by Bay Area Laboratory Cooperative.

Although Bonds has not officially retired from the playing field, he has not played a game since the charges were brought against him in 2007. It is widely assumed that his involvement with steroids, along with his conviction has lessened his chances of getting admitted to the Hall of Fame.