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Victor Conte, who masterminded a system to distribute hard-to-detect PEDs to top competitors including MLB legends Giambi and Bonds and Olympic track champion Jones years back, is deceased. He reached 75 years.

Government Probe and Criminal Cases

The federal government's inquiry regarding an additional venture Conte founded, Balco, led to the convictions of Marion Jones, top track cyclist Tammy Thomas, and former NFL defensive lineman Stubblefield, as well as various support personnel and professionals.

Conte's Admissions and Prison Time

He, who completed several months in a federal facility for illegal drug sales, discussed frankly about his famous former clients. He was featured on broadcast media to state he had seen three-time Olympic medalist Marion Jones self-administer with human growth hormones, but always refrained from pointing the finger at Bonds, the San Francisco Giants slugger.

Baseball's Investigation

This probe inspired the publication Game of Shadows. Shortly after the release of the book in 2006, MLB commissioner Selig appointed political figure George Mitchell to examine doping in baseball.

He revealed he provided steroids called two specific substances and advised on their use to dozens of top performers, including Jason Giambi, a multiple-time All-Star, the Mitchell report said.

Employing performance-enhancing substances represents a major risk to the honesty of the sport,” the report stated. “Prevalent consumption by competitors of such substances puts at a disadvantage the those who refuse to cheat who refuse to use them and raises questions about the legitimacy of baseball records.”

It was stated the problems were not sudden. Mitchell claimed all parties in professional baseball in the previous twenty years – including commissioners, team executives, the players’ association and athletes themselves – were partly accountable for what he termed the doping period.

Investigation Origins

The federal investigation into Balco started when a revenue officer examining the business refuse. He ended up pleading guilty to a couple of the multiple accusations against him in 2005 prior to court proceedings. Six of the 11 convicted people were convicted for lying to federal investigators.

Further Legal Actions

The athlete's coach Greg Anderson, admitted guilt to illegal substance sales linked to his involvement with Balco. He received a sentence to three months in incarceration and an equal period of house arrest.

His Court Proceedings

The home run king was indicted for deceiving a investigative body about obtaining PEDs and stood trial in 2011. Prosecutors dropped the case after several years when the prosecutors opted not to contest an overturned obstruction of justice conviction to the supreme court.

A multiple MVP winner and star performer, he concluded his playing days after the 2007 campaign with 762 homers, breaking the milestone of Aaron's total that Aaron achieved from 1954-76. The athlete refuted knowingly using performance-enhancing drugs but has failed to gain entry to the Hall of Fame.

After Incarceration

He told the Associated Press in a past conversation that “yes, athletes cheat to succeed, but the government agents and prosecutors engage in misconduct as well.” He doubted whether the results in such proceedings justified the effort.

Post-incarceration, he resumed operations in 2007 by reviving a nutritional supplements business he had launched years before called his supplements brand. He located it in the very same place that once housed Balco in Burlingame, California.

Unapologetic Views

He stayed unrepentant about his major involvement in distributing tailored drugs to elite athletes. He claimed he simply helped “balance the odds” in a sports environment already rife with doping athletes.

Expert Opinions

To an expert, a then-member of the global anti-doping body, he was essentially selling illegal narcotics. “This involves blatant drug dealing. It's about substance use in violation of federal law,” he stated in the past. “This is not philanthropy and it's not altruistic. It's trafficking.”