ESPN: Jason Giambi admitted to taking steroids

Miles · 12-02-2004, 01:36 AM

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/news/story?id=1936592

Jason Giambi admitted to a federal grand jury he took steroids and human growth hormone in 2003, according to transcripts of testimony obtained by the San Francisco Chronicle and published in the newspaper's Thursday editions.

The New York Yankees slugger's admission in December 2003 contradicts denials he has made since then that he never took performance-enhancing drugs.

But in the testimony obtained by the Chronicle, the former American League MVP told the grand jury investigating the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative steroids case he used steroids obtained from Greg Anderson, the personal trainer for San Francisco Giants star Barry Bonds.

Giambi did not implicate Bonds in his testimony; he pointed out that Anderson was secretive about who he was working for and what he was doing to help other professional athletes.

In the transcripts obtained by the Chronicle, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Nedrow asked Giambi, "Did [Anderson] ever say, 'Don't be talking about getting stuff from me?' "

"That's what I mean by saying that he made it so, you know, private, that you know, 'Hey, don't say anything, don't talk about anything,' " Giambi told the grand jury. "You know, I assumed because he's Barry's trainer -- you know, Barry -- but he never said one time, 'This is what Barry's taking, this is what Barry's doing.' He never gave up another name that he was dealing with or doing anything with."

Bonds, a seven-time National League MVP, has denied using steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs.

Giambi's younger brother Jeremy, a former Oakland outfielder, also told the grand jury he injected banned drugs received from Anderson, the Chronicle reported.

Both Giambis said they had used steroids even earlier in their baseball careers. They were granted immunity from prosecution if they told the truth to the grand jury, but faced perjury charges if they did not.

Jason Giambi described to the grand jury how -- using syringes -- he injected human growth hormone into his stomach and testosterone into his buttocks.

Giambi called the products he obtained from Anderson "undetectable" steroids known as "the clear" and "the cream."

"The clear" is a liquid drug administered under the tongue a few drops at a time. "The cream" was described as a testosterone-based balm rubbed onto the body, the Chronicle reported.

Giambi said he obtained all the drugs -- and syringes -- except human growth hormone from Anderson. Giambi said he got the human growth hormone at a Gold's Gym in Las Vegas.

Giambi testified Anderson sent him several different drugs, including testosterone, "the cream" and "the clear." Giambi added Anderson gave him advice on the use of human growth hormone.

"Did Mr. Anderson provide you with actual injectable testosterone?" Assistant U.S. Attorney Nedrow asked Giambi.

"Yes," replied Giambi.

Then, in reference to an alleged steroid calendar from January 2003, Nedrow asked, "OK. And this injectable T, or testosterone, is basically a steroid, correct?"

"Yes," Giambi replied

"And did he talk to you about the fact it was a steroid at the time?" Nedrow asked.

"Yeah, I mean, I -- I don't know if we got into a conversation about it, but we both knew about it, yes," Giambi told the grand jury.

Giambi said Anderson described "the cream" and "the clear" as "an alternative to steroids, but it doesn't show on a steroid test.

"And he started talking about that it would raise your testosterone levels, you know, which would basically make it a steroid ... or maybe he said it's an alternative of taking an injectable steroid. That might be a better way to put it."

Bonds brought Anderson on a barnstorming players' tour of Japan after the big-league season in 2002. Giambi said it was on that November trip he met the trainer.

In his testimony, Giambi said he asked Anderson about the things Bonds was doing to stay at an elite level.

"So I started to ask him: 'Hey, what are the things you're doing with Barry? He's an incredible player. I want to still be able to work out at that age and keep playing,' " Giambi testified. "And that's how the conversation first started."

According to the transcripts obtained by the Chronicle, Giambi testified he called Anderson after their return from overseas and then flew to the San Francisco area in either late November or early December to meet at a gym down the street from BALCO in Burlingame, Calif.

Giambi said the two went to a hospital for Giambi to provide blood and urine samples, which were then taken to BALCO.

According to the transcripts obtained by the Chronicle, Giambi said he and Anderson then began discussing various performance-enhancing drugs Anderson could supply. Also, when Anderson received the results of Giambi's blood and urine tests, Anderson told him he had tested positive for Deca-Durobolin -- a steroid Giambi said he had obtained from the Las Vegas gym -- and that he should discontinue its use because it could stay in his system a long time.

Giambi said Anderson assured him the drugs he provided in baseball's offseason would be out of his system before Giambi was called for a steroid test.

Giambi, a four-time All-Star who played his first seven seasons in Oakland, has been unable to duplicate his 2000 MVP success in three seasons with the Yankees. Giambi signed a seven-year, $120 million contract with the Yankees after the 2001 season.

He played with a knee injury in 2003 and missed more than half the 2004 season with an intestinal parasite and a benign tumor that reportedly was on his pituitary gland. The unusual ailments led many to question whether they were steroid related, but Giambi continued to deny ever taking steroids.

The Chronicle also reported Giambi testified he helped his younger brother obtain drugs from Anderson.

Jeremy Giambi told the grand jury Anderson described "the clear" and "the cream" as undetectable "alternatives to steroids."

"For all I knew, it could have been baby lotion," Jeremy Giambi told the grand jury.

Joe Seahawk · 12-02-2004, 01:39 AM

I'm shocked!

Frazod · 12-02-2004, 01:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Seahawk

I'm shocked!

Yeah, me too.

When the sun rises tomorrow, I'll be shocked by that as well.

tk13 · 12-02-2004, 01:43 AM

Interesting. Jeremy came up in the Royals organization.... I wonder if he was using them then. I remember seeing him hit one of his few homers a Royal back in 98 or 99 or whenever it was.

Miles · 12-02-2004, 01:44 AM

While im hardly suprised he was taking them, I am that solid evidence has finally turned up. I was really thinking this whole BALCO thing would just be years of speculation with circumstantial evidence linking to the actual players.

VonneMarie · 12-02-2004, 02:12 AM

Wow, I mean wow.

That had to be one of the worst kept secrets ever.

DaWolf · 12-02-2004, 05:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tk13

Interesting. Jeremy came up in the Royals organization.... I wonder if he was using them then. I remember seeing him hit one of his few homers a Royal back in 98 or 99 or whenever it was.

I figure so. Wasn't it Mark Quinn who was saying at one point that steroid use in the minors was rampant and that he knew some teammates who took them down there?

I'm happy that the Yanks are the ones straddled with Jason Giambi and his $120 million contract...

SBK · 12-02-2004, 07:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaWolf

I figure so. Wasn't it Mark Quinn who was saying at one point that steroid use in the minors was rampant and that he knew some teammates who took them down there?

I'm happy that the Yanks are the ones straddled with Jason Giambi and his $120 million contract...

I kinda wish I was the one with that contract, well, on the receiving end anyway.

cadmonkey · 12-02-2004, 07:18 AM

Wait, are you telling me he didn't really have a parasite that ate all his muscles away? Holly Crap, he lied!!!!!!!!!!

Amnorix · 12-02-2004, 07:56 AM

Just thinking about how much $$ the Yankees are still stuck with on that contract brings a

to my face...

teedubya · 12-02-2004, 08:15 AM

in other news, snow is cold, and fire is hot.

**the Talking Can** · 12-02-2004, 08:17 AM

next you're going to tell me that Bonds uses steroids...get out of here

Chief Henry · 12-02-2004, 08:42 AM

Maybe that Gawd dam Barry Bonds will get nailed
on of these freekin days.

kc rush · 12-02-2004, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaWolf

I figure so. Wasn't it Mark Quinn who was saying at one point that steroid use in the minors was rampant and that he knew some teammates who took them down there?

I'm happy that the Yanks are the ones straddled with Jason Giambi and his $120 million contract...

It was Kitt Pellow who said that steroids were being used in the minors. Quinn was a big user of them "Allegedly".

Eleazar · 12-02-2004, 09:18 AM

Too bad Jeremy Giambi couldn't have himself an MVP season off the juice like his brother did... dude was on roids and still can't hit better than .250/10 ... might just be time to know your role, 5th outfielder.

12-02-2004, 01:36 AM
Miles MVP Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Dallas, TX Casino cash: $-1497600	ESPN: Jason Giambi admitted to taking steroids http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/news/story?id=1936592 Jason Giambi admitted to a federal grand jury he took steroids and human growth hormone in 2003, according to transcripts of testimony obtained by the San Francisco Chronicle and published in the newspaper's Thursday editions. The New York Yankees slugger's admission in December 2003 contradicts denials he has made since then that he never took performance-enhancing drugs. But in the testimony obtained by the Chronicle, the former American League MVP told the grand jury investigating the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative steroids case he used steroids obtained from Greg Anderson, the personal trainer for San Francisco Giants star Barry Bonds. Giambi did not implicate Bonds in his testimony; he pointed out that Anderson was secretive about who he was working for and what he was doing to help other professional athletes. In the transcripts obtained by the Chronicle, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Nedrow asked Giambi, "Did [Anderson] ever say, 'Don't be talking about getting stuff from me?' " "That's what I mean by saying that he made it so, you know, private, that you know, 'Hey, don't say anything, don't talk about anything,' " Giambi told the grand jury. "You know, I assumed because he's Barry's trainer -- you know, Barry -- but he never said one time, 'This is what Barry's taking, this is what Barry's doing.' He never gave up another name that he was dealing with or doing anything with." Bonds, a seven-time National League MVP, has denied using steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs. Giambi's younger brother Jeremy, a former Oakland outfielder, also told the grand jury he injected banned drugs received from Anderson, the Chronicle reported. Both Giambis said they had used steroids even earlier in their baseball careers. They were granted immunity from prosecution if they told the truth to the grand jury, but faced perjury charges if they did not. Jason Giambi described to the grand jury how -- using syringes -- he injected human growth hormone into his stomach and testosterone into his buttocks. Giambi called the products he obtained from Anderson "undetectable" steroids known as "the clear" and "the cream." "The clear" is a liquid drug administered under the tongue a few drops at a time. "The cream" was described as a testosterone-based balm rubbed onto the body, the Chronicle reported. Giambi said he obtained all the drugs -- and syringes -- except human growth hormone from Anderson. Giambi said he got the human growth hormone at a Gold's Gym in Las Vegas. Giambi testified Anderson sent him several different drugs, including testosterone, "the cream" and "the clear." Giambi added Anderson gave him advice on the use of human growth hormone. "Did Mr. Anderson provide you with actual injectable testosterone?" Assistant U.S. Attorney Nedrow asked Giambi. "Yes," replied Giambi. Then, in reference to an alleged steroid calendar from January 2003, Nedrow asked, "OK. And this injectable T, or testosterone, is basically a steroid, correct?" "Yes," Giambi replied "And did he talk to you about the fact it was a steroid at the time?" Nedrow asked. "Yeah, I mean, I -- I don't know if we got into a conversation about it, but we both knew about it, yes," Giambi told the grand jury. Giambi said Anderson described "the cream" and "the clear" as "an alternative to steroids, but it doesn't show on a steroid test. "And he started talking about that it would raise your testosterone levels, you know, which would basically make it a steroid ... or maybe he said it's an alternative of taking an injectable steroid. That might be a better way to put it." Bonds brought Anderson on a barnstorming players' tour of Japan after the big-league season in 2002. Giambi said it was on that November trip he met the trainer. In his testimony, Giambi said he asked Anderson about the things Bonds was doing to stay at an elite level. "So I started to ask him: 'Hey, what are the things you're doing with Barry? He's an incredible player. I want to still be able to work out at that age and keep playing,' " Giambi testified. "And that's how the conversation first started." According to the transcripts obtained by the Chronicle, Giambi testified he called Anderson after their return from overseas and then flew to the San Francisco area in either late November or early December to meet at a gym down the street from BALCO in Burlingame, Calif. Giambi said the two went to a hospital for Giambi to provide blood and urine samples, which were then taken to BALCO. According to the transcripts obtained by the Chronicle, Giambi said he and Anderson then began discussing various performance-enhancing drugs Anderson could supply. Also, when Anderson received the results of Giambi's blood and urine tests, Anderson told him he had tested positive for Deca-Durobolin -- a steroid Giambi said he had obtained from the Las Vegas gym -- and that he should discontinue its use because it could stay in his system a long time. Giambi said Anderson assured him the drugs he provided in baseball's offseason would be out of his system before Giambi was called for a steroid test. Giambi, a four-time All-Star who played his first seven seasons in Oakland, has been unable to duplicate his 2000 MVP success in three seasons with the Yankees. Giambi signed a seven-year, $120 million contract with the Yankees after the 2001 season. He played with a knee injury in 2003 and missed more than half the 2004 season with an intestinal parasite and a benign tumor that reportedly was on his pituitary gland. The unusual ailments led many to question whether they were steroid related, but Giambi continued to deny ever taking steroids. The Chronicle also reported Giambi testified he helped his younger brother obtain drugs from Anderson. Jeremy Giambi told the grand jury Anderson described "the clear" and "the cream" as undetectable "alternatives to steroids." "For all I knew, it could have been baby lotion," Jeremy Giambi told the grand jury.
Posts: 14,539

12-02-2004, 01:39 AM	#2
Joe Seahawk This place entertains.. Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Seattle Casino cash: $5504435	I'm shocked!
Posts: 5,514

12-02-2004, 01:43 AM	#4
tk13 ... Join Date: Nov 2001 Casino cash: $-1667500	Interesting. Jeremy came up in the Royals organization.... I wonder if he was using them then. I remember seeing him hit one of his few homers a Royal back in 98 or 99 or whenever it was.
Posts: 56,596

12-02-2004, 01:44 AM	#5
Miles MVP Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Dallas, TX Casino cash: $-1497600	While im hardly suprised he was taking them, I am that solid evidence has finally turned up. I was really thinking this whole BALCO thing would just be years of speculation with circumstantial evidence linking to the actual players. Last edited by Miles; 12-02-2004 at 02:13 AM..
Posts: 14,539

12-02-2004, 02:12 AM	#6
VonneMarie Don't look over here Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Kansas City, MO Casino cash: $10008987	Wow, I mean wow. That had to be one of the worst kept secrets ever.
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12-02-2004, 07:18 AM	#9
cadmonkey Please no Vick!!!!!! Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Boston, Ma Casino cash: $10004900	Wait, are you telling me he didn't really have a parasite that ate all his muscles away? Holly Crap, he lied!!!!!!!!!! __________________
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12-02-2004, 07:56 AM	#10
Amnorix In BB I trust Join Date: May 2003 Location: Boston, Mass. Casino cash: $10029808	Just thinking about how much $$ the Yankees are still stuck with on that contract brings a to my face... __________________ "I love signature blocks on the Internet. I get to put whatever the hell I want in quotes, pick a pretend author, and bang, it's like he really said it." George Washington
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12-02-2004, 08:15 AM	#11
teedubya Most Valuable Poster Join Date: Oct 2003 Casino cash: $9003042	in other news, snow is cold, and fire is hot.
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12-02-2004, 08:17 AM	#12
the Talking Can Supporter Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: street Casino cash: $9382208	next you're going to tell me that Bonds uses steroids...get out of here __________________ Clark Hunt: "Thank god for the Dominican pool boy"
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12-02-2004, 08:42 AM	#13
Chief Henry MVP Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: IOWA Casino cash: $10005088	Maybe that Gawd dam Barry Bonds will get nailed on of these freekin days. __________________ Patrick Mahomes...The only QB to ever play in the NFL with at least 5,000 passing yards in a single season and 5,000 passing yards in a single college season.
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12-02-2004, 09:18 AM	#15
Eleazar Beyond the Rapids Join Date: May 2003 Location: Langley, VA Casino cash: $-370000	Too bad Jeremy Giambi couldn't have himself an MVP season off the juice like his brother did... dude was on roids and still can't hit better than .250/10 ... might just be time to know your role, 5th outfielder.
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