Team says didn't know about Barry Bonds drug test

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan 12 (Reuters) The San Francisco Giants said they had not heard allegations that their controversial superstar Barry Bonds had failed a drug test for amphetamines until a report in the New York Daily News.

Within striking range of becoming Major League Baseball's all-time home-run king, Bonds, 42, faces considerable public scepticism and a federal perjury investigation over his possible past use of steroids.

According to yester's Daily News that quotes unnamed sources, the seven-time Most Valuable Player failed a test for amphetamines last season.

''Last night was the first time we heard of this recent accusation against Barry Bonds,'' the Giants said in a statement.

''Under Major League Baseball's collective bargaining agreement with the Major League Baseball Players Association, clubs are not notified after a player receives a first positive test for amphetamines.'' Bonds' lawyer and his agent did not return calls for comment.

Baseball started testing for amphetamines last season amid growing efforts to curb performance-enhancing drugs in the American national past time.

''First time a player tests positive he gets treatment and it's kept confidential,'' said league spokesman Richard Levin. ''The second time obviously there is a penalty phase and obviously at that time it is no longer confidential.'' A second offense would lead to a 25-game suspension, to be followed by an 80-game suspension for a third offense.

The Giants' owners have an uneasy relationship with their left fielder who has 734 career home runs, trailing only Hank Aaron's 755.

Bonds has been the team's signature player since the new owners purchased the Giants in 1992. Yet years of steroid allegations against their star has embarrassed management, and team president Peter Magowan abruptly cut off a question about Bonds at a news conference last week called to introduce pitcher Barry Zito.

The Giants had reportedly agreed last month to a 16 million dollar one-year Bonds contract for 2007, but the deal has not been finalized, team officials say.

Reuters AY DB1114