Giambi testified about his steroid use

Ripping the shroud further off one of baseball's dirty secrets, Yankees slugger Jason Giambi testified before a federal grand jury that he used performance-enhancing human growth hormone in 2003 and illegal steroids for at least three seasons, the San Francisco Chronicle reported yesterday, citing a transcript of the court proceedings.

Giambi made the admission under a grant of immunity from prosecution Dec. 11, 2003, just eight weeks after he homered twice off Pedro Martinez to help the Yankees defeat the Red Sox in Game 7 of the American League Championship Series. The former AL Most Valuable Player said under oath that he injected himself with steroids he obtained from Barry Bonds's personal trainer, Greg Anderson, one of four men indicted by the grand jury probing the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative.

Giambi's brother, Jeremy, testified the same day that he injected himself with banned performance-enhancing drugs he obtained from Anderson. Jeremy Giambi said he injected both human growth hormone (hGH) and testosterone before the start of the 2003 season, which he played with the Red Sox.

The Giambis, whose testimony contradicted their public denials of steroid use, joined former National League MVP Ken Caminiti and former AL MVP Jose Canseco in admitting their use of illegal substances. Gary Sheffield of the Yankees also has said he unwittingly used a cream that contained anabolic steroids, and the Chronicle reported that Anderson was secretly taped saying Bonds used steroids as recently as 2003.

Even with Major League Baseball near the height of its popularity after the Sox captivated much of the nation in winning their first championship in 86 years, the steroid controversy remains a blemish on the national pastime.

"This once again demonstrates the need to implement a tougher and more effective major league drug-testing program," commissioner Bud Selig said in response to the Chronicle story. "I will leave no stone unturned in accomplishing our goal of zero tolerance by the start of spring training."

Estimates of how many major league players have used steroids vary dramatically, from Caminiti and Canseco putting the figure at 50 percent or greater, to Major League Baseball, citing a testing program last year, reporting 5 percent to 7 percent. The Giambis testified they were told by their supplier that the substances they used were undetectable.

Both Giambis have been severely hampered by injuries since 2003, though they have denied any connection between their ailments and steroid use. Jason, 33, who signed a seven-year, $120 million contract with the Yankees after the 2001 season, hit .250 in 2003 as he battled a knee injury, and mustered only a .208 average last season as he coped with a purported intestinal parasite and a benign tumor, reportedly in his pituitary gland.

According to a report in the New York Daily News, the Yankees are exploring their options on Giambi. The Yankees owe him $76 million in salary. The Yankees issued a statement yesterday, saying, "We have met with the commissioner's office today and will continue to work with them to obtain all of the facts in this matter. We have made no decisions and will keep all of our options open."

Jeremy Giambi, 30, hit only .197 in 50 games for the Sox in 2003 before shoulder surgery. And he appeared in only 17 minor league games last season for the Dodgers, hitting .185.

Jason Giambi described to the grand jury how he injected hGH in his stomach, testosterone in his buttocks, and rubbed an undetectable steroid known as "the cream" on his body. He said he placed drops of another steroid, called "the clear," under his tongue. He said he received all the substances from Anderson except the hGH, which he testified he obtained at a Gold's Gym in Las Vegas (he said he also bought steroids at the gym in 2001, before he met Anderson).

When Jason Giambi was asked how the steroids affected his performance, he told the grand jury, "I didn't actually notice a huge difference, to be honest with you."

Both Giambis testified they used steroids before they met Anderson (Jason first met Anderson when he toured Japan with a team of major leaguers, including Bonds, in 2002). The brothers said Anderson tested them and told them they had tested positive for Deca Durabolin before he recommended the undetectable options.

Jeremy Giambi, who played for the A's with Jason in 2000 and 2001 (Jason won the MVP award with Oakland in 2000), testified that he knew testosterone was a steroid but was told by Anderson "the clear" and "the cream" were "alternatives to steroids."

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

He testified he swallowed several pills he received from Anderson even though he didn't know what the pills were. Asked why he trusted Anderson, Jeremy Giambi said, "I don't know, I guess -- I mean, you're right. I probably shouldn't have trusted the guy. But I just felt like, you know, what he had done for Barry and, you know, I didn't think the guy would send me something that was, you know, Drano or something. I mean, I hope he wouldn't."

When it was suggested to Jeremy Giambi that he may have trusted Anderson because his brother also was using drugs he received from the trainer, Jeremy said, "Yeah, and Jason didn't die."

Major League Baseball and the Yankees took no immediate action against the Giambis. Penalties for steroid use did not take effect in the major leagues until 2003, and hGH has yet to be specifically banned by MLB.

"We have met with the commissioner's office today and will continue to work with them to obtain all of the facts in this matter," Yankees president Randy Levine said.

Anderson is one of four men, including BALCO founder Victor Conte, BALCO vice president James Valente, and track coach Remi Korchemny, who have been indicted by the grand jury on a range of charges, including distributing steroids, possession of hGH, and money laundering. They have pleaded not guilty.

Material from the Associated Press was used in this report.