NEW YORK (AFP) — Convicted steroid dealer David Jacobs met with National Football League investigators, telling them he provided performance-enhancing drugs to NFL players, the New York Times reported Friday.
Jacobs pleaded guilty last year on federal conspiracy charges for possessing anabolic steroids with intent to distribute and was sentenced to probation on May 1.
"The day after I got sentenced, the NFL investigators were at my door at 9 a.m. and trying to find out what I knew," Jacobs told the Times.
"They wanted to know what information I had and what documentary evidence I could provide them. I told them I was not going to talk specifics without my lawyer present.
"They wanted to know a list of players I dealt with and knew and I told them I didn't feel comfortable doing that yet."
Jacobs, who met for two hours with NFL investigators, said earlier he had provided steroids and human growth hormone to two NFL players and they had supplied other NFL players with the drugs, which are banned under NFL rules.
Jacobs told the Times he plans another meeting next week with NFL investigators, bringing with him his attorneys and documentary evidence regarding sales to players.
Investigators were worried the names would become public before they could look into the matter.
"They said they didn't want to go through what baseball has gone through with the public and Congress," Jacobs told the Times. "They seemed very concerned about the issue."
It's no wonder. Major League Baseball has had its reputation tarnished by widespread doping revelations linked to the BALCO steroid scandal and other steroid and human growth hormone users.
Nearly 90 players were linked to doping in a baseball probe completed last December. US lawmakers have pressured sport and union leaders to agree on tougher doping test procedures, leading to three revisions of code.
Major US professional team sports do not follow the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) doping rules, acting as watchdogs of their own sports with dubious results in many cases.
A web site for a supplements store run by Jacobs noted that he had counseled several players on the Dallas Cowboys and Atlanta Falcons.
Last month, the Times reported that information learned in the Jacobs investigation led federal prosecutors to investigate New Orleans Saints offensive lineman Matt Lehr on suspicion of distributing performance-enhancing drugs.
Lehr's attorneys have denied he ever sold human growth hormone or steroids and said Jacobs made up the story after Lehr would not pay Jacobs' legal fees. Jacobs denies asking Lehr for money.
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