NEW YORK — The lawyer who leaked confidential grand jury testimony of Barry Bonds and other athletes to the San Francisco Chronicle five years ago was released from prison after serving 16 months of his 30-month sentence.

Troy Ellerman was released Jan. 16, according to the Bureau of Prisons Web site. Bureau of Prisons spokeswoman Traci Billingsley said Tuesday he was let go under a program in which a term can be reduced by one year if a prisoner successfully completes a substance-abuse treatment program.

In addition, prisoners who serve more than one year are eligible to receive 54 days off for each year of good behavior under standard rules, Billingsley said.

Ellerman’s release was reported earlier this year by the Daily News and mentioned Tuesday by the Web site BizofBaseball.com.

‘‘He’s looking for some full-time work,’’ said Ellerman’s lawyer, Scott L. Tedmon. ‘‘He’s going to be doing some consulting on the business side, which is similar to what he was doing with the rodeo.’’

Ellerman was commissioner of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association from 2005-07. He voluntarily surrendered his membership in the California State Bar rather than face disbarment.

Ellerman once represented Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative founder Victor Conte and later was the lawyer for BALCO vice president James Valente.