Bonds apologizes but stops short of confirming positive amphetamine test

According to a story in the New York Daily News, the San Francisco slugger failed an amphetamines test in 2006. The newspaper reported that when first informed of the positive result, Bonds attributed it to a substance he had taken from teammate Mark Sweeney's locker.

"He is both my teammate and my friend," Bonds said in a statement. "He did not give me anything whatsoever and has nothing to do with this matter, contrary to recent reports.

"I want to express my deepest apologies especially to Mark and his family as well as my other teammates, the San Francisco Giants organization and the fans," he said.

There is no penalty for a first positive test for amphetamines, and a player is not identified until he fails a second test, which also would result in a 25-game suspension.

"Obviously, we're pleased that Barry has straightened this out," said Sweeney's agent, Barry Axelrod.

Despite the apology, Bonds neither confirmed nor denied testing positive.

Golf

Donald leads; Wie falters

HONOLULU — Luke Donald did not have much of a following Thursday, so he barely heard any applause even as he made birdies on half his holes for a 7-under 63 and a one-shot lead over K.J. Choi at the Sony Open.

The crowds were with Michelle Wie. And there was not much cheering there, either. Wie, 17, hit into the water twice, the bunker twice, clipped two palm trees and did not hit a fairway until the 15th. She finished with a 78, in second-to-last place.

horse racing

Barbaro recovering well

KENNETT SQUARE, Pa. — Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro is spending hours in his protective sling, needed to deter sudden movement and make the colt comfortable as he fights back from his latest setback from laminitis.

"He's not down as far as he was on Tuesday," co-owner Gretchen Jackson said Thursday. "He's coming back. He's a comfortable horse."

X-rays on the 4-year-old bay colt showed no additional complications in either hind leg, and chief surgeon Dean Richardson said Barbaro was "acceptably comfortable" in his recovery from having damaged tissue removed from his left hind hoof on Tuesday.

college football

Ginn sprained foot celebrating

CLEVELAND — Ohio State's Ted Ginn Jr., injured celebrating after he returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown in the BCS national title game, sprained his left foot and will have to wear a walking boot for a few weeks, his father Ted Ginn Sr. said Thursday.

● Notable underclassmen who said Thursday they will enter the NFL draft: Notre Dame tailback Darius Walker and Ohio State wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez. USC linebacker Keith Rivers and UCLA offensive guard Shannon Tevaga will stay in school and play their senior seasons.