Victor Conte: The Mastermind Behind Olympic Doping Scandals

The Rise of Victor Conte and BALCO

Victor Conte, the self-proclaimed mastermind behind the distribution of designer steroids in Olympic and international competitions, offers a rare insider's perspective on the world of performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) in elite sports. For four years, Conte operated on the dark side of athletics, helping athletes circumvent drug testing with ease.

In 1984, Conte founded the Bay Area Laboratory Co-operative (BALCO), building a facility and laboratory from the ground up. BALCO's initial focus was on comprehensive blood testing for athletes, which Conte used to design personalized supplement programs. However, this legitimate business soon became a front for a much more nefarious operation.

The Clear: A Game-Changing Designer Steroid

The turning point for Conte and BALCO came with the introduction of "The Clear," a designer steroid that would later become known as tetrahydrogestrinone (THG). Conte purchased this liquid substance from chemist Patrick Arnold for $150 per 100cc bottle. The Clear was administered sublingually using an eyedropper.

What made The Clear so revolutionary was its undetectability in standard drug tests. Conte tested the substance on himself and found that his urine samples came back clean. This discovery opened the door to a new era of doping in sports.

Distribution to Elite Athletes

Conte began distributing The Clear to elite athletes, starting with NFL player Bill Romanowski. He then expanded his client base to include world-class track and field athletes, including members of the 2000 Olympic team. Among these athletes was sprinter Tim Montgomery.

The BALCO Doping Program

Conte's doping program at BALCO was sophisticated and carefully designed to maximize performance while minimizing the risk of detection. Here are some key aspects of the program:

1. Customized Blood Testing: BALCO started with comprehensive blood testing to determine each athlete's specific nutritional needs.

2. Balanced Approach: Conte emphasized that effective doping wasn't about mega-doses of any single substance, but rather about achieving a proper balance of various drugs and nutrients.

3. Multiple Drug Cocktail: Athletes under Conte's program used a combination of drugs, including:

   • The Clear (THG)
   • Testosterone cream
   • Human Growth Hormone (HGH)
   • Erythropoietin (EPO)

4. Cycling Schedule: Conte developed a precise schedule for drug administration:

   • Monday: The Clear
   • Tuesday: Testosterone/epitestosterone cream (to balance T/E ratio)
   • Wednesday: The Clear
   • Thursday: Testosterone/epitestosterone cream
   • Friday-Sunday: Off

5. Growth Hormone Protocol: HGH was typically administered daily at night.

6. EPO Usage: EPO, which stimulates red blood cell production, was used to enhance stamina and endurance.

The Impact of EPO

EPO (Erythropoietin) played a crucial role in Conte's doping program. This hormone, naturally produced in the bone marrow, stimulates the production of red blood cells. When used as a performance-enhancing drug, EPO significantly boosts stamina and endurance.

Conte recalls a world-class sprinter describing the effects of EPO as turning them into a machine that simply doesn't get tired. This allowed athletes to perform more repetitions at higher intensities during training, leading to improved performance in competition.

Circumventing Drug Tests

One of the most shocking aspects of Conte's revelations is how easy it was to circumvent drug testing protocols. He describes it as "taking candy from a baby." Here are some of the methods used:

1. Designer Steroids: The Clear was undetectable because it wasn't on the market and therefore not included in standard drug tests.

2. Masking Agents: The testosterone/epitestosterone cream helped maintain a balanced T/E ratio, which is used to detect testosterone doping.

3. Timing: By carefully scheduling when athletes took certain substances, Conte ensured they would be clean during in-competition testing.

4. Exploiting Testing Gaps: For example, at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, only long-distance runners were tested for EPO, allowing sprinters to use it without fear of detection.

5. Use of Endogenous Hormones: Substances like growth hormone and EPO are naturally produced by the body, making them harder to detect.

The Marian Jones Case

One of the most high-profile athletes associated with Conte's doping program was sprinter Marian Jones. Jones won three gold medals and two bronze medals at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, becoming the golden girl of the games.

Conte's involvement with Jones began when her coach approached him. The initial communication was primarily between Conte, Jones' husband, and her coach. Conte sent a box containing performance-enhancing substances to North Carolina, where Jones began using them.

During the 2000 Olympics, Jones used growth hormone under Conte's guidance, taking advantage of the fact that there was no testing for HGH at the time. Conte designed a program for Jones that focused on using growth hormone to aid recovery between events.

However, Conte is quick to point out that his role in Jones' success was relatively small. He notes that Jones had been dominating her events for three years before they met. Nonetheless, the association with Conte and BALCO would eventually lead to Jones' downfall.

The Aftermath for Marian Jones

Conte expresses remorse for what happened to Marian Jones in the aftermath of the BALCO scandal. He believes that Jones was held to a different standard than other athletes, facing intense scrutiny, including email monitoring and phone tapping.

Interestingly, Jones did not go to prison for doping offenses. Instead, her legal troubles stemmed from involvement in a check fraud scheme and lying to federal agents. Nonetheless, the scandal effectively ended her career and tarnished her legacy.

The Evolution of Drug Testing in Sports

Conte's insights provide a valuable perspective on the history and evolution of drug testing in sports:

1. Early Days: The first drug testing in Olympic sports began in 1968.

2. 1976 Olympics: Tests could detect about a dozen anabolic steroids, but not testosterone.

3. 1988 Olympics: Known as the "testosterone games" due to widespread use and lack of out-of-competition testing.

4. 1990: Implementation of out-of-competition testing began.

5. 2000 Olympics: Testing still had significant gaps, such as not testing sprinters for EPO.

6. Current State: While testing has improved, Conte believes significant loopholes still exist.

Loopholes in Current Testing

Despite advancements in testing methods, Conte argues that the current system still has many weaknesses:

1. In-Competition vs. Out-of-Competition: Many substances are only tested for during competitions, allowing athletes to use them in training.

2. Micro-dosing: Athletes use small doses of substances, often at night, to stay below detectable levels.

3. Endogenous Hormones: Use of substances naturally produced by the body, which are harder to detect.

4. Lack of Comprehensive Testing: Not all substances are tested for in all athletes or at all times.

The Role of Governing Bodies and Sponsors

Conte's experience led him to believe that the entire system of elite sports is compromised by corruption, from the top down. This includes:

• Television networks
• International Olympic Committee
• World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)
• United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA)
• Athletes themselves

He argues that the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), founded in 1999, was created not primarily for the health and safety of athletes or to ensure fair competition, but to protect the interests of Olympic sponsors.

Conte points to the Olympic Partner (TOP) program, which raises billions of dollars from major corporations like Coca-Cola, Toyota, and Airbnb. He believes that the desire to protect these sponsorships leads to a system that doesn't truly want to catch doping athletes, as it's "bad for business."

Cover-Ups and Corruption

Conte shares a disturbing anecdote about alleged cover-ups of positive drug tests. He recounts a conversation with an Olympic official who told him about positive tests being swept under the rug at the 1988 Olympics and the 1992 U.S. track and field trials.

In one instance, Conte's client, shot putter Greg Tafralis, tested positive but was later told he was "off the hook" because the "elder statesmen" had decided it wasn't a good time for these positive tests to come out. Apparently, five positive tests, including Tafralis and a high jumper, were covered up.

State-Sponsored Doping: The Russian Case

Conte also discusses the infamous Russian state-sponsored doping program, which he believes involved high-level government officials, including President Vladimir Putin. He references the documentary "Icarus" and his conversations with Gregory Rodchenkov, the former head of the Moscow anti-doping laboratory.

The Russian program involved:

1. Collecting clean urine samples from athletes
2. Administering designer steroids to enhance performance
3. Swapping tainted urine samples with clean ones during testing
4. Manipulating official reports to show negative results

This sophisticated operation allowed Russian athletes to dominate events in the 2012 Olympics and 2013 World Championships while evading detection.

Conte's Legitimate Business: ZMA

While Conte is infamous for his role in doping scandals, he also developed a legitimate supplement called ZMA (Zinc Magnesium Aspartate). Created in 1996, ZMA is marketed as a nighttime anabolic formula to promote deeper sleep and increase growth hormone secretion.

Conte emphasizes that by 1999-2000, he had already made millions of dollars from ZMA, with over 100 distributors worldwide. This success raises questions about his motivations for engaging in illegal doping activities.

Project World Record

One of Conte's most ambitious undertakings was "Project World Record," which aimed to break the 100-meter world record. This project involved:

• Sprinter Tim Montgomery
• Charlie Francis (former coach of Ben Johnson)
• Milo Sarcev (bodybuilder and strength coach)
• Trevor Graham (Montgomery's coach)

Conte brought these individuals together at BALCO to create a comprehensive plan for Montgomery. The project saw some success, with Montgomery winning silver medals at both the indoor and outdoor World Championships in 2001.

Interestingly, Conte claims he didn't directly pay Montgomery or his coach. Instead, he paid Francis and Sarcev for their expertise. The project also served as promotion for Conte's ZMA supplement, with Montgomery wearing the ZMA logo during competitions.

Legal Consequences

Despite the scale of his operation, Conte's legal punishment was relatively minor. He was charged with distributing a small amount of testosterone cream mixed with epitestosterone, valued at only $1,700. The crime carried a potential sentence of 0-6 months, and Conte served four months in a prison camp.

Conte expresses regret for his actions, particularly the shame he brought to his family and the widespread damage caused to those involved, both directly and indirectly.

The Current State of Doping in Sports

Despite improvements in testing methods, Conte believes that doping remains prevalent in elite sports. He argues that current testing protocols still have significant loopholes:

1. Out-of-Competition Loopholes: Many stimulants and narcotics aren't tested for out of competition, allowing athletes to use them in training.

2. Micro-dosing: Athletes use small doses of substances, often at night, to stay below detectable levels.

3. Focus on Endogenous Hormones: Use of substances naturally produced by the body, which are harder to detect.

4. Timing: Athletes can still use PEDs effectively by carefully timing their use around testing schedules.

Conte estimates that in a 100-meter race, the use of PEDs can make an athlete 2 to 4 meters faster – a significant advantage at the elite level.

The Future of Performance Enhancement

Conte touches on some controversial ideas about the future of performance enhancement in sports:

1. Enhanced Games: He mentions a proposed event called the Enhanced Games, backed by a PayPal co-founder, which would allow athletes to use PEDs under medical supervision. Conte does not support this idea, citing the potential for athletes to overdo it and cause self-harm.

2. Legal Performance Enhancers: Conte notes that many legal supplements, such as ZMA, creatine, and others, can significantly aid in recovery and performance.

3. Improved Testing: He believes that if testing became truly effective, many athletes would prefer to compete clean.

Conte's Current Work and Redemption

Since his release from prison, Conte has positioned himself as an anti-doping advocate. His current focus includes:

1. Working with Boxers: In the last decade, Conte has worked with 28 world champion boxers.

2. SNAC Facility: He runs a training facility called SNAC (Scientific Nutrition for Advanced Conditioning).

3. Voluntary Anti-Doping: Conte's boxers are tested by VADA (Voluntary Anti-Doping Association), which he considers very stringent.

4. 24/7/365 Testing: One of his fighters, Nonito Donaire, was the first athlete in the world to undergo year-round, round-the-clock testing with VADA.

Conte believes his group of SNAC fighters are among the cleanest in the sport of boxing. He emphasizes that it's been 12 years since he became involved in boxing and began advocating for stricter drug testing.

Conclusion

Victor Conte's story provides a unique glimpse into the world of performance-enhancing drugs in elite sports. From his role in one of the biggest doping scandals in Olympic history to his current position as an anti-doping advocate, Conte's journey highlights the complexities of the issue.

While significant progress has been made in anti-doping efforts, Conte's insights suggest that the use of performance-enhancing drugs remains a persistent challenge in elite sports. The cat-and-mouse game between dopers and testers continues, with new designer drugs and sophisticated evasion techniques constantly emerging.

Conte's transformation from a doping mastermind to an anti-doping advocate underscores the possibility of redemption and the importance of insider knowledge in the fight against doping. His story serves as a cautionary tale about the ethical challenges in elite sports and the far-reaching consequences of doping, not just for athletes but for their families and the integrity of sport as a whole.

As sports science and anti-doping technologies continue to evolve, the insights provided by figures like Conte will remain valuable in understanding and addressing the ongoing challenge of performance-enhancing drugs in athletics. The goal of creating a truly level playing field in elite sports remains elusive, but efforts to achieve it must persist for the sake of fair competition and the health and safety of athletes worldwide.

Article created from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2op5XG7LGkI