Through his lawyer, Barry Bonds admitted to taking performance enhancing steroids during his playing career. However, according to the MLB all-time leader in home runs, he was duped into taking the illegal substances by his trainer, Greg Anderson.

According to his attorney, Bonds thought he was swallowing flax seed oil and rubbing arthritis ointment on his body when, in fact, he was using designer steroids commonly referred to as "the cream" and "the clear."

In his own opening statement on Tuesday, assistant U.S. attorney Matt Parrella called the former slugger's claims "ridiculous and unbelievable," and promised to present witnesses that would testify under oath that they either witnessed Bonds inject himself with steroids or heard the former all-star admit that he consciously used performance enhancers throughout his career.

Though Bonds holds both the single-season and career home run records, most have long accepted that he accomplished these feats with the help of performance enhancers. Now everyone knows for sure.

Whether Bonds serves jail time for lying to federal prosecutors or ducks the charges and maintains his freedom, his legacy is tarnished beyond repair. Throughout his career, the former Pittsburgh Pirates and San Francisco Giants outfielder bitterly denied that he used any sort of drug, while those around him noticed his muscles, feet, head and hands swelling to unnatural sizes.

A widely despised major leaguer even in his prime, Bonds is still regarded by many as an unaccountable jerk. With today's admission, those people can finally rest a little easier now that they know for sure what Bonds and any other right-minded person already knew: that flax seed oil and arthritis ointment do not a home run king make.

-      Ryan Lawrence