Stubblefield pleads guilty

Former NFL defensive lineman Dana Stubblefield pleaded guilty Friday in San Francisco to lying to investigators in the BALCO steroid case, making him the first football player charged in the long-running federal investigation.

Stubblefield, a three-time Pro Bowl player who testified before the BALCO grand jury in November 2003, was charged with making false statements to federal agents about his use of performance-enhancing drugs.
The charges, unsealed in federal court, allege Stubblefield lied to an IRS agent when he said he had not used steroids linked to the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative and denied receiving performance enhancers from BALCO founder Victor Conte.
The plea deal calls for Stubblefield, 37, to spend zero to six months in prison, though U.S. District Judge Susan Illston said she is not bound by that agreement and can sentence him to up to five years. He is to be sentenced April 25.
Stubblefield and his attorney, Mike Armstong, declined to comment as they left court.
Stubblefield is the latest target in a federal investigation that has spanned five years and ensnared several elite athletes and members of the Burlingame-based steroid distribution ring, including Conte, who served four months in prison.
The biggest name was Barry Bonds, the former San Francisco Giant and baseball's career home run king. Bonds is awaiting trial.

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