Gary Sheffield admitted to a grand jury in 2003 that he unwittingly took the illegal steroid known as “the cream,” Sports Illustrated reports.
Sheffield, who was introduced to BALCO by Barry Bonds, says he was not told that the cream, which he used before and during the 2002 season, was an illegal steroid. “It was like you could go to a store and find something like that. That’s what was in my thoughts,” he says. “I put it on my legs and thought nothing of it. I kept it in my locker. The trainer saw my cream.” Sheffield said he cut ties with BALCO following the 2002 season. He’s come back with two of his best seasons since then.