Bonds 'not guilty' of perjury

One of America's biggest baseball stars has pleaded not guilty to charges of perjury and obstruction of justice during an inquiry into steroid use.

The San Francisco Giants player, Barry Bonds, is the latest top athlete implicated in a widening scandal over performance enhancing drugs.

In September he became the sport's record home run hitter, with 755.

He denies accusations that he used a previously untraceable steroid from a San Francisco company called Balco.

Making it into the record books as the man who had hit more home runs than anyone else in baseball history should have been the crowning achievement of Mr Bonds' storied career, says the BBC's David Willis in San Francisco.

Drugs probe

Yet, by then, the rumours were rife that his success owed less to raw talent and hard training and more to performance enhancing drugs.

An investigation into Balco's activities has already led to the downfall of several other top athletes, among them the Olympic sprinter Marion Jones.

She recently relinquished the five medals she won at the Sydney Games after admitting using steroids.

Mr Bonds has been charged with four counts of perjury and one count of obstruction of justice over an inquiry into drugs use.

The 43-year-old appeared at a district court in San Francisco on Friday, where he pleaded not guilty to the charges.

He continues to deny knowingly taking performance enhancing drugs.

Source: BBC Sport