Ex-NFL Player Dana Stubblefield Pleads Guilty in BALCO Federal Steroid Investigation
Blogging the National Football League, Blogging the NFL
I’ve been a casual observer in keeping up with the BALCO (Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative) steroid scandal in baseball. Only “recently” — as in the past couple years — have I been aware of various investigations of BALCO and athletes linked to the lab or punished for using steroids produced there. After five years, the long-running federal investigation has an NFL player to add to its list of guilty athletes. Former three-time pro bowler and NFL Defensive Player-of-the-Year Dana Stubblefield pleaded guilty today to lying to investigators. I guess I’ve now been forced to develop more of an interest.
Dana was charged with making false statements to federal agents about his use of the performance-enhancing designer steroid THG back in 2003. He was one of three players fined by the NFL for testing positive for it, but he was not suspended because THG was not added to the NFL’s banned substance list until after the tests were conducted. He pleaded guilty to lying about using THG today and will be sentenced April 25. He will face a prison term of up to six months or possibly longer.
Dana may have lied to the feds, but according to a San Jose Mercury News report, he has long been open about his steroid use with educators and students at San Jose’s Valley Christian High School. Officials there knew about it when they hired him as a defensive line coach in 2005. And he openly discussed his missteps with young athletes, advising them not to take the same shortcuts.
As this investigation continues, it will be interesting to see if any more NFL names pop-up. I certainly hope not, but I would be pretty naive to think it won’t happen. And so begins a black eye for the NFL, but the swell of embarrassment across professional sports is already well beyond repair. If you’re new to this whole mess, USA Today has a BALCO investigation timeline you can check out to get up-to-speed.
Tags: BALCO, Dana-StubblefieldRelated Stories
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