U.S. baseball steroid dealer avoids jail

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - A former Major League Baseball clubhouse attendant who sold steroids to dozens of players and later shared information with investigators received a sentence of five years probation but no jail time from a federal judge on Friday.

Kirk Radomski, 38, who was a batboy and equipment manager with the New York Mets from 1985 to 1995, pleaded guilty in April 2007 to distributing steroids and money laundering.

"I would like to apologize to the court, to my family, my friends for everything I have done," said Radomski. "It hasn't been easy on me or my family."

He has since cooperated with authorities probing the spread of performance-enhancing drugs among top athletes.

"He is probably the most significant cooperator in the area of sports athletic doping," prosecutor Matthew Parrella told the judge, explaining that the federal government was not seeking any jail time. "His extensive and immediate cooperation deserve recognition."

Radomski has testified before former Sen. George Mitchell's commission, which alleged widespread steroid use in Major League Baseball, and will appear before a congressional committee in Washington next week.

His lawyer said Radomski received anonymous threats by telephone after the Mitchell Report was released in December.

MORE STEROID CASES TO COME

The sentencing was the latest chapter in a growing scandal that has tarnished the image of a sport known as the American pastime and some of its biggest stars.

U.S. Judge Susan Illston, who sentenced Radomski, is also presiding over a perjury case against all-time U.S. baseball home run king Barry Bonds, who is charged with lying about his past use of steroids to a federal grand jury. The next hearing in that case is scheduled for later this month.

"This is not the first case on the subject that we have had and it won't be the last," Illston said. "I view these as very serious offenses."

The judge also oversaw the BALCO case, which unveiled major abuses of steroids across baseball, track and field and other professional sports. In that case focused on a San Francisco area nutrition lab, its owner and Bonds' personal trainer ended up going to jail.

Under Friday's sentence, Radomski will have to pay a fine of $18,575.

The Mitchell report has also cast doubts about Roger Clemens, one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history. He and Bonds have denied ever knowingly using performance enhancing drugs.

According to the indictment, Radomski conducted his drug business from his home through personal contact, telephone and mail. "During my past employment in Major League Baseball, I developed contacts with Major League Baseball players throughout the country to whom I subsequently distributed anabolic steroids and athletic performance-enhancing drugs," Radomski said in his plea agreement.

(Editing by David Wiessler)