Stubblefield gets 2 years probation
SAN FRANCISCO -- A federal judge on Friday sentenced former National Football League player Dana Stubblefield to two years probation for lying to sports-doping investigators about his steroid use. He was also fined $5,000.
U.S. District Judge Susan Illston said the sentence was warranted because Stubblefield was "extremely cooperative" with investigators after he was charged in January 2008.
Federal probation officials had recommend three months of home detention.
Federal prosecutors said Stubblefield turned over the names of players, agents and trainers he suspected of drug use to federal investigators and NFL officials. Prosecutors said NFL officials have interviewed Stubblefield and are investigating his claims.
NFL spokesman Greg Aiello declined comment. Stubblefield declined the judge's invitation to say something before he was sentenced, and didn't comment outside court.
Stubblefield admitted that three days after the NFL informed him that he had tested positive for steroids, he denied taking them when interviewed by agents who raided the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative.
He was one of three players fined by the NFL for testing positive for the designer steroid THG, but he was not suspended because THG was not added to the NFL's banned substance list until after the tests were conducted.
According to prosecutors, Stubblefield received notice from the NFL on Nov. 10, 2003 that he had tested positive for THG, which was distributed by BALCO and known as "the clear."
Three days later, he told IRS agent Jeff Novitzky he had never used that substance, according to the court records.
Stubblefield, a three-time Pro Bowl player, also admitted in court in January 2008 that he lied when he said he never ingested the oxygen-producing drug EPO and he never dealt with BALCO's founder Victor Conte, who served three months in prison for steroids dealing.
Stubblefield played defensive line for the San Francisco 49ers, Washington Redskins and Oakland Raiders from 1993-03. He was the NFL defensive player of the year in 1997 while with the 49ers.