Baseball: Bonds booed over drugs

San Francisco Giants slugger Barry Bonds endured a hostile reception on the opening day of the baseball season yesterday, with a capacity crowd at San Diego making clear their views on allegations of the outfielder's illegal steroid use.

At the start of a campaign in which Bonds could become the greatest home-run hitter in major league history, he was booed at every opportunity by Padres fans and even had to remove a syringe from the field that was tossed in his direction from the crowd.

Bonds lies third on the all-time home run standings with 708, six behind Babe Ruth and 47 adrift of Hank Aaron's major league record of 755, but the last few seasons have seen persistent allegations of steroid use cast doubts on his achievements.

Major League Baseball has said it will open an investigation into drugs use.