Reserve LB to cooperate with BALCO investigation

<p>Atlanta Falcons reserve linebacker Artie Ulmer said Monday he will cooperate with the federal grand jury investigating a California-based company that prescribes nutritional supplements for elite athletes.</p><p>Ulmer has been served a subpoena and will testify in December. An agent with the Internal Revenue Service recently called the five-year veteran.</p><p>They just called me and asked if I knew Victor Conte, Ulmer said. I was like, Yeah. He was my nutritionist for a few months, and that was about it. He told me Id have to come there and testify.</p><p>Conte is the founder of Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative, a company based in Burlingame, Calif., that IRS agents and a San Mateo County narcotics task force raided last month.</p><p>Ulmer indicated he would not hire an attorney.</p><p>Nah, Ive got nothing to hide, Ulmer said. I didnt do anything wrong. Thats about all I can say. Im nervous about going up there, but they just said, Tell the truth, and everything will be fine. </p><p>Though authorities have refused to discuss the case and the focus of the grand jury is unclear, Conte recently told The Associated Press in an e-mail that approximately 40 athletes have been subpoenaed.</p><p>Officials with the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency said a coach sent them a syringe containing a steroid that he said he got from BALCO. Conte denied he was the source of the substance in the syringe, a steroid called tetrahydrogestrinone, or THG.</p><p>After the Minnesota Vikings drafted Ulmer in the seventh round of 1997, the NFL gave him a four-game suspension after he tested positive for steroids. The Vikings activated Ulmer for the final 11 games of his rookie year, but he never played.</p><p>Ulmer has been in Atlanta since 2001. He was out of football in 1998, played for Denver in 1999 and for San Francisco in 2000.</p><p>I havent talked to Victor in a year probably or any of those guys, Ulmer said. I dont know whats going on. Who knows with the NFL? Man, all I can tell you is Victor never said anything about drugs or steroids to me.</p><p>BALCO analyzes blood and urine samples from athletes, and then prescribes supplements to compensate for deficiencies in vitamins and minerals.</p><p>Testimony before the panel is expected to begin this week.</p><p>NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said Saturday that the league is rechecking players drug tests to look for THG. He indicated the league would use previously taken urine samples that were tested for other banned substances.</p><p>Players who test positive for steroids receive a four-game suspension for the first offense.</p><p>Falcons linebacker Keith Newman missed the first four games of this season after violating the leagues policy on anabolic steroids and related substances. The NFL suspended Atlanta cornerback Ray Buchanan for the first four games of 2002 after testing positive for ephedrine.</p>

http://accesswdun.com/article/2003/10/185208