Doping Czar Dislikes BALCO Plea Deal

The head of the World Anti-Doping Agency voiced his disapproval today of the plea bargain struck by Victor Conte, founder of the now-infamous BALCO Laboratory. The lab has been at the center of the recent steroid controversy involving high profile athletes like Barry Bonds and manly track runner Marion Jones. Conte's admission of distributing steroids to athletes will land him four months in a minimum security detention facility and he'll get to wear a stylish tracking anklet for a few years. The steroid czar reacted to the Conte's arrangement with federal prosecutors by stating "It ends up with a kind of a whimper and a very light sentence that many people think is not commensurate with the gravity of the offenses."

Am I the only one who thinks that Conte's sentence is fair? The guy wasn't peddling crack to toddlers. He gave steroids to consenting adult atheletes. The athletes are the ones who should be accountable for cheating and taking illegal substances, not this mustachioed nutritionist. Granted, Conte distributed drugs classified as narcotics, and laundered a small amount of money to cover up his dealings, but he in no way deserves San Quentin. I think the sentence is reasonable and the steroid czar should relax, mainly because his name is Dick Pound. With a name like that, does he really have room to criticize anyone?