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TAMPA, Fla. -- New York Yankees outfielder Gary Sheffield denied ever using steroids Thursday, saying he would take a drug test if asked.

Sheffield, who signed with the Yankees as a free agent in December after two seasons with the Atlanta Braves, was one of several baseball players who testified before a grand jury in the case against the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative -- the San Francisco lab allegedly at the center of a steroid ring.

"The bottom line is that I did purchase vitamins from that company, being out there and working out with Barry Bonds," Sheffield said. "Besides that, I don't know what else can come with that. I've been an honorable guy. I've been outspoken about testing guys. And anybody that wants me to say I'll take the challenge of taking a test, I'll be the first guy up there."

According to the documents released Tuesday, Bonds' personal trainer, Greg Anderson, told federal agents he gave steroids to several professional baseball players. It was unclear whether Anderson provided specific names to the federal agents.

No players were identified in the documents released at a news conference at the U.S. attorney's office in San Francisco, and the only time a player's name was used in the 24 pages of documents it was blacked out.

But several news organizations around the country were e-mailed versions of the documents, in which Sheffield was listed as having sent a package to BALCO on Feb. 17, 2003.

The material inadvertently sent does not allege that Sheffield used steroids, and does not specify what was in the package.

On Thursday, Sheffield said he had given blood and urine samples to the lab and the company designed special vitamin supplements for him according to his body type and nutritional needs. His attorney, Rufus Williams, said federal officials told him a clerical error caused Sheffield's name to be disclosed.

Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press