Prosecutor: Bonds lied to protect record

SAN FRANCISCO, April 7 (UPI) -- A U.S. prosecutor told jurors in closing arguments Thursday baseball slugger Barry Bonds had "every opportunity" to tell the truth about steroids use, but lied.

Bonds' defense rested its case in his three-week perjury trial without calling any witnesses.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Nedrow said Bonds testified falsely before a 2003 federal grand jury because steroid use would "taint" his achievements, including the major league record for career home runs, the Los Angeles Times reported.

The Times said Nedrow told jurors to use their "common sense" and asked if it was plausible that an athlete making $17 million a year would use drugs -- provided by his personal trainer -- without asking what they were.

Bonds earlier told a grand jury he used two substances identified as steroids, but personal trainer Greg Anderson had told him they were arthritis cream and flaxseed oil.

Nedrow pointed to four baseball players who testified Anderson supplied them with performance-enhancing drugs, and admitted they knew Anderson was giving them performance-enhancing drugs, the Times said.

The newspaper said Bonds looked grim while Nedrow outlined his case.