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.”
