BALCO owner says baseball steroid report too soft

By Adam Tanner

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Sen. George Mitchell's report on steroid use in U.S. baseball erred by not advocating sanctions against past steroid users, the head of the now defunct BALCO lab that triggered a global sports doping scandal said on Thursday.

"I am very disappointed with the findings of the Mitchell report," Victor Conte told Reuters after the results of the long-anticipated probe was released.

"This is certainly not the message that needs to be sent to kids. The recommendation that there be no consequences for anybody involved with the investigation is outrageous."

Conte became the world's most famous steroid dealer after a federal investigation unmasked details of the shady world of performance enhancing drugs for top athletes. He served time in prison and now says he wants to fight steroid use in sports.

In the 409-page report, Mitchell came out against punishing most past violators.

"I urge the (Major League Baseball) Commissioner to forego imposing baseball's rules on performance enhancing substances, except in those cases where he determines that necessary to maintain the integrity of the game," the report said.

BALCO has been linked with many high-profile athletes including all-time Major League Baseball home-run king Barry Bonds and track-and-field star Marion Jones.

Bonds last week pleaded not guilty to a federal charges that he lied to the BALCO grand jury about steroid use; he now faces a lengthy legal battle. On Wednesday, the International Olympic Committee took back the five Sydney Games medals Jones had won in 2000, rebuking her after she admitted taking drugs.

As part of his declared effort to create a level playing field in sport, Conte met with the head of the World Anti-Doping Agency on Wednesday to discuss ways to strengthen anti-doping procedures.

"There need to be consequences as a result of wrongdoing," Conte said about the Mitchell report. "This report favors those who control the money in the world of baseball."

Even if Major League Baseball does not act against athletes linked to steroids in line with Mitchell's suggestions, many expect such links will cloud future the prospects for players for getting into U.S. baseball's Hall of Fame.

Bobby Doerr, 89, one of oldest living members of the Hall of Fame who played second base for the Boston Red Sox, said he was surprised players such as star pitcher Roger Clemens, who started his career in Boston, were named as performance drug users.

"It's hurting the game to think that guys like that are doing that," he said in an interview.

(Editing by David Storey)