Five more minor leaguers suspended for positive tests

NEW YORK – Arizona Diamondbacks minor league pitcher Angel Rocha was suspended for 100 games yesterday, the toughest penalty baseball has levied for a positive steroids test.

Rocha was suspended for 15 games June 6.

“”We understand and support the commissioner’s policy on this matter, and agree with the importance and impact of the proper enforcement,”” Diamondbacks general manager Josh Byrnes said in a statement. “”We will continue to make education a top priority for our players at all levels of our system.””

Four players were suspended for 50 games each for testing positive: Los Angeles Angels pitcher Karl Jelinas, New York Mets pitcher Jorge Reyes, St. Louis outfielder Yonathan Sivira and San Diego pitcher Matthew Varner.

The penalty for an initial positive test this year was increased from 15 games to 50 for players with minor league contracts, and the penalty for a second positive test rose from 30 games to 100.

For major leaguers, the punishment was lengthened from 10 days to 50 games – but any test for major leaguers is treated as a first positive test.

There were 81 suspensions last season for violations of the minor league drug program, and four minor league pitchers were suspended last week.

Newspaper: Giants trainer to testify before Bonds’ grand jury

SAN FRANCISCO – The head athletic trainer for the San Francisco Giants was told to appear before a federal grand jury investigating whether Barry Bonds lied about his connection to the BALCO steroids scandal, a newspaper reported.

Stan Conte, who is not related to Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative owner Victor Conte, was subpoenaed to appear in a San Francisco federal courtroom April 27, the San Francisco Chronicle reported yesterday, citing three anonymous sources familiar with the investigation.

Conte is scheduled to appear before the grand jury on the same day as Bonds’ orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Arthur Ting. The grand jury subpoenaed Ting’s medical records related to Bonds a year ago, the Chronicle reported.

The panel has been hearing testimony for more than a month about whether the outfielder lied to a separate grand jury in December 2003 about his connection to BALCO.

Bonds addressed the latest probe publicly for the first time yesterday on his television show, “”Bonds on Bonds.””

“”I knew I was still being investigated, but I didn’t know that was particularly coming,”” he said.

Bonds added that he would not repeat what he told the BALCO grand jury more than two years ago, saying he still stands by those comments.

“”I said what I said in the grand jury testimony,”” he said. “”That’s what I stated and that’s what I will live by for the rest of my life.””

Conte is in his 15th season with the team and seventh as its head trainer. His subpoena represents the first time a Giants employee other than a player has been called to testify in connection with the government probe.

Conte said “”the Giants policy is not to comment on direct or indirect questions about the grand jury.””