Steroid confession

last updated 8 January 2015

San Francisco

A doping scandal that shook American sport ended quietly last week, when three men pleaded guilty to giving performance-enhancing steroids to some of the nation’s top athletes. Under a deal with prosecutors, the defendants—including the personal trainer of Barry Bonds, baseball’s home-run king—now won’t have to publicly name dozens of track-and-field stars, and professional baseball and football players they supplied. If the case had gone to trial, Bonds, Olympic gold medalist Marion Jones, and other superstars could have been called to testify. “I’m disappointed,” said Dr. Gary Wadler, a steroid expert, “that the details of this affair will not see the light of day.”