Bonds trainer still refuses to testify

SAN FRANCISCO, March 2 (UPI) -- Barry Bonds' trainer is still refusing to testify in his former client's steroid case despite the threat of jail.

At a San Francisco hearing Tuesday, federal Judge Susan Illston warned Greg Anderson, who has admitted distributing steroids in the BALCO doping scandal, that he will head back to prison if he refuses to testify at Bonds' perjury trial, which begins March 21, California Watch reports.

Anderson stood at a podium as Bonds sat a few feet away. His lawyer, Mark Geragos, said, "He will not testify."

Anderson nodded when asked if he will remain silent.

If Anderson does talk, Illston said, many of his other clients probably will be spared testifying about the drugs they say he gave them. They include Jason Giambi, Benito Santiago, Bobby Estalella, Marvin Benard and Armando Rios.

She ordered Anderson back in court when jury selection begins.

Bonds, holder of the career home run record, has pleaded not guilty to perjury and obstruction of justice for lying when he told a grand jury he had never knowingly used steroids.

Anderson has already served six months for his Bay Area Laboratory Cooperative conviction plus more than a year for refusing to aid the Bonds probe.