Baseball home-run king Barry Bonds has avoided a prison sentence over a single criminal conviction related to an investigation of steroids in sports.
Bonds was sentenced to two years probation, along with 30 days of home detention, 250 hours of community service, and a $US4,000 fine.
US District Judge Susan Illston immediately delayed imposing the sentence while Bonds appeals his obstruction of justice conviction.
Prosecutors had accused Bonds of lying and misleading a grand jury. One prosecutor called the punishment a slap on the wrist.
Bonds's attorneys vowed to keep trying to erase the conviction, claiming he is unjustly branded a felon.
A Northern California jury convicted Bonds in April on one count of obstruction of justice, but deadlocked on three other counts of lying to a grand jury.
