Selig to monitor the Bonds case "closely"

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig vowed on Thursday to rid the sport of illegal drugs and defended its drug-testing program for being as effective as any in professional sports.

Selig's comments came after Barry Bonds, baseball's all-time home run leader, was charged in a San Francisco federal court with perjury and obstruction of justice for allegedly using steroids and then lying about it to a grand jury.

Selig said he was awaiting the results of an investigation by former U.S. Senate majority leader George Mitchell into the use of drugs in baseball. The report is expected to be released before the end of the year.

"It is important that the facts regarding steroid use in baseball be known, which is why I asked Senator Mitchell to investigate the issue," Selig said in a statement.

"We currently have a testing program that is as good as any in professional sports, and the program is working," he said. "We continue to fund research to find an efficacious test for HGH (human growth hormone) and have banned amphetamines from our sport."

The 43-year-old Bonds, a seven-time Most Valuable Player who has played the last 15 years with the San Francisco Giants, will plead not guilty, his lawyer said.

"I have yet to see the details of this indictment and while everyone in America is considered innocent until proven guilty, I take this indictment very seriously and will follow its progress closely," Selig said.

(Editing by Philip Barbara)