Jul 25, 2007

Patrick Arnold "Clears" up Barry Bonds Scandal

It's not breaking news, but it's another nail in Barry Bonds' coffin.

Patrick Arnold, long regarded as a big fish in the performance enhancing drug community, affirmed his belief that Bonds and Gary Sheffield used "the clear." If this was the first (or tenth, for that matter) such allegation, Bonds would be quaking in his boots.

But this kind of news has become routine.

Back in the days before they'd become famous authors (Game of Shadows), Lance Williams and Mark Fainaru-Wada reported about Bonds' testimony before the grand jury in 2004. Drip, drip. Thanks for the leak, Troy Ellerman!

Even then, Bonds admitted to using "the clear" that Victor Conte had supplied him. Of course, Bonds understood it to be flaxseed oil for his arthritis. Riiiiiight.

Anyway, Arnold is far from the first person to point the finger at Bonds. But as a 2006 Sports Illustrated article describes, Arnold is a huge figure in the world of illegal chemistry, and he's given credit for creating "the clear."

So while some may decry Arnold's allegations on the basis that he's crooked, I'd disagree. As creator of "the clear," Arnold might be just twisted enough to consider Barry Bonds a success story.

Anyone read Frankenstein lately?

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