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The man behind the scheme, who masterminded a system to supply undetectable performance-enhancing drugs to elite sports stars such as baseball icons Barry Bonds and Jason Giambi and track and field star Jones in the past, has passed away. He was 75.

Federal Investigation and Criminal Cases

An official probe of an additional venture established by Conte, Balco, culminated in the convictions of Jones, elite sprint cyclist Thomas, and ex-pro football defender Stubblefield, as well as trainers, suppliers, chemists, attorneys, and coaches.

Conte's Admissions and Sentencing

He, who completed a third of a year in a penitentiary for dealing steroids, discussed frankly about his high-profile athletes. He was featured on television to state he had seen triple Olympic champion Marion Jones inject herself with HGH, but consistently avoided pointing the finger at Bonds, the baseball star.

Sport's Official Review

This probe resulted in the publication Game of Shadows. Just days following the release of the book in the mid-2000s, MLB commissioner Bud Selig appointed ex-senator George Mitchell to investigate steroids.

Conte stated he sold steroids called certain undetectable drugs and advised on their use to numerous top performers, such as Giambi, a multiple-time All-Star, the Mitchell report said.

“The illegal use of PEDs represents a major risk to the fairness of the competition,” the findings emphasized. “Prevalent consumption by players of these compounds harms the honest athletes who avoid them and leads to skepticism about the accuracy of baseball records.”

Mitchell indicated the issues were not sudden. Mitchell claimed everyone involved in professional baseball in the preceding decades – covering commissioners, team executives, the representative body and athletes themselves – shared some responsibility for what he called the doping period.

Case Inception

The official probe into the laboratory was initiated by a IRS investigator digging through the corporate garbage. The defendant ended up pleading guilty to two of the multiple accusations filed against him in the mid-2000s prior to court proceedings. Six of the individuals found guilty were convicted for lying to the court.

Associated Convictions

Bonds’ personal trainer Anderson, pleaded guilty to steroid distribution charges stemming from his Balco connections. Anderson was sentenced to three months in jail and an equal period of house arrest.

The Slugger's Case

The home run king was accused of providing false statements to a investigative body about using banned substances and stood trial in 2011. The government abandoned his case down the line when the prosecutors opted not to challenge an reversed conviction to the federal apex court.

A seven-time National League MVP and star performer, he ended his career after the that season with a record home run tally, breaking the mark of 755 that Hank Aaron set from 1954-76. Bonds denied intentionally taking performance-enhancing drugs but has not been voted to the Hall of Fame.

Later Years

Conte remarked to the press in a 2010 interview that “yes, athletes cheat to triumph, but the government agents and prosecutors also bend the rules.” He also questioned whether the conclusions in such legal cases justified the effort.

After serving his sentence, he got back in business in the late 2000s by resuscitating a nutritional supplements business he had launched previously called SNAC System. He set up shop in the very same place that was home to Balco in Burlingame, California.

Continued Justification

Conte stayed unrepentant about his central role in providing tailored drugs to professional competitors. He argued he simply helped “balance the odds” in a sports environment already rife with rule-breakers.

Expert Opinions

To an expert, a at the time a member of the global anti-doping body, he could be compared to distributing hard drugs. “You are talking about blatant drug dealing. You are talking about using drugs in violation of federal law,” the doctor remarked in 2007. “This isn't charity and it's not altruistic. It's illegal sales.”