A federal government investigation into anabolic steroid use in professional football appears imminent after court documents acknowledge that former NFL player Dana Stubblefield has provided “substantial cooperation” that includes the names of football players and trainers involved in “ongoing” anabolic steroid use and distribution. United States District Judge Susan Illston sentenced Stubblefield to two years straight probation consistent with the prosecutors’ recommendations for leniency (“Stubblefield cooperating in feds’ probe,” February 6).
The federal investigation of the Bay Area Laboratory Co-operative (BALCO) has primarily targeted professional baseball and Olympic track and field athletes. The potential next phase of the BALCO investigation may include a steroid witch-hunt in the National Football League (NFL) as the government considers how to act on the information provided by Stubblefield. The government’s February 2, 2009 sentencing memorandum in the case of United States v. Dana Stubblefield describes the nature of the information:
Stubblefield further agreed to discuss his observations of illegal drug use in the National Football League, and provided a description of his knowledge regarding the distribution and use of illegal steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs in the National Football League, providing the names of players, trainers, and others associated with the NFL who may be involved in ongoing activities with illegal drugs in professional football. The NFL has interviewed Stubblefield and is continuing to follow up on the information he has provided. Throughout the process, Stubblefield has remained available to law enforcement and the NFL as a resource with respect to these matters.
Federal prosecutors tried to prevent disclosure of Stubblefield’s cooperation with the government’s steroid investigation by having the court documents sealed. The government worried that public knowledge would jeopardize the NFL steroid investigation.
“The government is continuing to evaluate the information provided by Mr. Stubblefield, and considering ways to utilize that information. Disclosure of Mr. Stubblefield’s cooperation as outlined in the government’s sentencing memorandum could jeopardize the value of the information. Accordingly, the government respectfully requests that the sentencing memorandum as well as this sealing application and proposed order, be filed under seal.”
Dana Stubblefield is a former defensive tackle for the Oakland Raiders, San Francisco 49ers, and Washington Redskins. He pleaded guilty to one count of making false statements to a government agency when he lied about his use of the BALCO performance-enhancing drugs known as “the clear” which contained tetrahydrogestrinone (THG), “the cream” which contained testosterone/epitestosterone, and erytrhopoietin (EPO) to an IRS Special Agent on November 13, 2003. Stubblefield was notified that he had tested positive for THG on November 10, 2003, along with fellow teammates on the Oakland Raiders center Barret Robbins, linebacker Bill Romanowski and defensive tackle Chris Cooper, in a urine sample submitted to the NFL on July 31, 2003.
About the author
Millard writes about anabolic steroids and performance enhancing drugs and their use and impact in sport and society. He discusses the medical and non-medical uses of anabolic-androgenic steroids while advocating a harm reduction approach to steroid education.
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