during grand jury testimony on december 4, 2003, bonds said that he used a clear substance and a cream that he received from his personal strength trainer, greg anderson, who told him they were the nutritional supplement flaxseed oil and a rubbing balm for arthritis. this testimony was released to the "san francisco chronicle" by troy ellerman, a defense lawyer for victor conte. (ellerman pleaded guilty to disclosing sealed grand jury testimony on february 14, 2007). later reports on bonds’ leaked grand-jury testimony contend that he admitted to unknowingly using "the clear," a form of the designer steroid thg and "the cream", a concoction designed to mask certain hormone ratios helping the user to beat drug tests.