Former Bonds friend linked to probe

SAN FRANCISCO, July 14 (UPI) -- A former friend and business partner of baseball star Barry Bonds has been linked to the San Francisco grand jury investigation of Bonds' alleged steroid use.

Businessman Steve Hoskins, who had a falling out with Bonds after the athlete told federal prosecutors Hoskins stole from him, was identified by Bonds' lawyer as a key witness in the case, which also involves the alleged diversion of money from memorabilia sales to Bonds' girlfriends, The Los Angeles Times reported Friday. Bonds' attorney also named the player's former girlfriend, Kimberly Bell, as a witness.

Michael Cardoza, Hoskins' lawyer, would not comment to the Times Thursday when asked if the businessman had testified before a grand jury but he said his client believes Bonds' angry outbursts at the time of their falling out was due to side-effects from steroids.

"It appeared he was in a sort of steroid rage, the way he was acting," Cardoza told the newspaper. "That's what we thought was causing him to act that way."