For the first time, single-season home run king Barry Bonds is flatly denying that he has taken -- or is taking -- steroids.

	Bonds

When Bonds was in San Diego for the start of the San Francisco Giants' recent road trip, he taped an interview with Bob Costas for "On the Record with Bob Costas" that will air Thursday night on HBO. According to a transcript obtained by the San Francisco Chronicle, Costas asked Bonds, "For the record, have you ever used steroids?"

"No," Bonds answered.

"Would you ever consider using them under any circumstances?"

"No. I don't have to. I mean, I'm a good enough ballplayer as it is. I don't need to be any better. I can't get any better at this age."

In every city, reporters have asked Bonds about steroids, and many fans suspect the drugs are behind his explosive power surge in recent seasons -- including a major league-record 73 hit last season.

When asked Wednesday if he thought his denial on national television will end the speculation, Bonds said, "I don't care what you guys do, really. ... So I said no. Now what? Why does everyone want to keep going over and over and over this? Do they think my answer is going to be any different?"

Bonds admitted he's upset the steroid accusations have altered the public's perception of him after all the positives from his record-setting 2001 season.

"I'm tired of it," he said. "One minute I do this and I'm good. The next minute I'm accused of other s--. I'm mad about that more than anything."

Ken Caminiti, the National League's Most Valuable Player in 1996, told Sports Illustrated last month he won the award while on steroids and that at least half of major leaguers use the drugs. Jose Canseco also has admitted that he used steroids during his playing career.