Josh Hodnik
MuscleChemistry Representative
Taken from VPXsports.com
Josh Hodnik Interviews Victor Conte
Josh Hodnik Interviews Victor Conte
by: Josh Hodnik 01-28-2013
Just recently Juan Manuel Marquez stepped into the ring to fight the heavily favored Manny "PacMan" Pacquiao. Many believed this to be the last hoo-rah for the 39 year old Marquez. This bout marked the fourth between the two, where Pacquiao stood at two wins and one draw. Pacman showed up to the fight looking lean and muscular as always. In the other corner, Marquez's physique was leaner and much more muscular than it had been in the past - which is somewhat odd for a seasoned veteran.
After Marquez knocked Pacman out in the sixth round, people began to speculate on how Marquez became so much leaner and stronger. What had changed in Marquez's camp? He hired Angel Hernandez, who is working with Usain Bolt, as his strength and conditioning coach. This would still not raise too many flags until former BALCO owner Victor Conte alerted the media that Angel Hernandez was in fact Memo Heredia.
Heredia had been accused of working with BALCO, which Conte denies. He is also an informant who has admitted to giving PEDs to numerous top level athletes. I had a few questions about this and I was curious about some things involving BALCO that the media had seemed to twist around. I was once involved in the same business as Conte (dealing steroids), and I too was convicted of it, so I know how the media can turn things around.
I thought the only way to get answers to the questions I had was to talk to Victor Conte myself. It took a few weeks of calling Victor's office and sending numerous e-mails to get an interview set up. He agreed to talk on the phone, and he actually seemed happy to share his story during our conversation.
Josh Hodnik: What athletes are currently working with you and SNAC?
Victor Conte: I have worked with many world-class athletes over the years. I consider myself somewhat retired, so I don't take on many athletes at all. I work with female boxer Marlen Esparza who just won the bronze at the London Olympics. Another fighter that I am working with is bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire. Donaire is one of few fighters that have submitted to year round drug testing with VADA. I work with boxing trainer Virgil Hunter at Undisputed Boxing Gym in San Carlos, CA, and I will occasionally work with a new fighter, but that is not very often.
JH: Are you still a big proponent of mineral testing and finding out people's hormonal status and such?
VC: I have been doing blood testing on athletes for over 16 years. What I found is that most athletes are mineral deficient. This can have a huge impact on performance. I do not believe that this problem can be fixed by taking a multi-mineral that is generally found on most store shelves. Certain minerals can inhibit absorption of other minerals, and most multi-minerals are a combination of many of these minerals that interact with each other. Besides minerals I also look at testosterone, IGF-1, hemoglobin, and white blood cell count.
I was working with athletes and mineral testing years before I was ever involved with PEDs and BALCO. I have worked with over 250 NFL players. I worked with the entire Denver Bronco team when they won back-to-back Super Bowls with John Elway and Bill Romanowski.
JH: Do you think a guy like Novitzky finally showed his true colors when there was talk about his book deal?
VC: Yes I do, he was always out to make a name for himself. It wasn't about getting the people that were actually supplying the steroids. Novitzky had a mission to bring down Barry Bonds and other athletes he could prove were taking steroids. He started working out at the same gym Bonds did, and he would tell all of his friends that he was going to bust Bonds because he was an asshole. It had nothing to do with justice or right and wrong with Novitzky.
JH: What are athletes doing to beat the tests today?
VC: They aren’t doing anything different to pass tests because testing methods haven't changed. They are still testing testosterone/epitestosterone ratios to see if synthetic hormones are being taken. Until carbon isotope testing is performed in all sports, athletes will be able to pass a test with a low dose of fast acting testosterone in a cream or gel.
JH: If I were WADA, why would I need to work with Victor Conte? What information are you bringing to the table that WADA doesn't already know? What new drugs are being used to beat the tests?
VC: I have sat down and met with WADA in person and told them what the problem is with the testing regimen they have in place. EPO and HGH tests are very expensive and rarely done. The current T/E testing system is fairly easy to beat. So until the testing methods are changed, athletes pretty much have free reign to use a variety of PEDs without detection. It seems to me that they have ignored what I have said. They agree that there is widespread drug use in sports, and they say they want it to stop, but their unwillingness to change testing shows me otherwise.
JH: Transdermal Testosterone (patches, creams, etc.) have been available for a very long time - What's new about them and what information are you bringing to the table that WADA or the IOC doesn't know?
VC: There is really nothing new about these testosterone creams and gels. They deliver a low dose of testosterone that is in and out of the system at a very fast rate. This method is preferred because it is the easiest way to pass a test. There is really no reason for athletes and coaches to change methods of doping when testing does not change. I have heard rumors about another undetectable steroid that is now available. I am positive this is false.
JH: Do you work with any bodybuilders?
VC: I do not. The reason for this is simple. I do no advocate drug use and I do not want to be around it. I know most of these guys are taking something illegal. If they get busted and I am working with them, my name is going to be the focus of attention. That is not something I want.
JH: Why are you now a reliable and credible and a valid opportunity for athletes while Angel Heridita isn't....
VC: All know that all of my fighters can pass a test at any time. They are not using PEDs. That is why Nonito Donaire has volunteered to be tested by VADA, who can test 24/7, 365 days a year.
I know that Memo Heredia is working with Usain Bolt and Juan Manuel Marquez. He is probably under investigation right now. This isn't a good thing for any athlete to get wrapped up in.
JH: I know that you now advocate drug free sports after once supplying many top professional and Olympic athletes steroids and other performance enhancing drugs. Do you feel that sports will ever be completely free of drug use?
VC: I know that as long as WADA and USADA continue to ignore what I have told them to do, nothing will change and athletes will always be able to pass a test.
Josh Hodnik Interviews Victor Conte
Josh Hodnik Interviews Victor Conte
by: Josh Hodnik 01-28-2013
Just recently Juan Manuel Marquez stepped into the ring to fight the heavily favored Manny "PacMan" Pacquiao. Many believed this to be the last hoo-rah for the 39 year old Marquez. This bout marked the fourth between the two, where Pacquiao stood at two wins and one draw. Pacman showed up to the fight looking lean and muscular as always. In the other corner, Marquez's physique was leaner and much more muscular than it had been in the past - which is somewhat odd for a seasoned veteran.
After Marquez knocked Pacman out in the sixth round, people began to speculate on how Marquez became so much leaner and stronger. What had changed in Marquez's camp? He hired Angel Hernandez, who is working with Usain Bolt, as his strength and conditioning coach. This would still not raise too many flags until former BALCO owner Victor Conte alerted the media that Angel Hernandez was in fact Memo Heredia.
Heredia had been accused of working with BALCO, which Conte denies. He is also an informant who has admitted to giving PEDs to numerous top level athletes. I had a few questions about this and I was curious about some things involving BALCO that the media had seemed to twist around. I was once involved in the same business as Conte (dealing steroids), and I too was convicted of it, so I know how the media can turn things around.
I thought the only way to get answers to the questions I had was to talk to Victor Conte myself. It took a few weeks of calling Victor's office and sending numerous e-mails to get an interview set up. He agreed to talk on the phone, and he actually seemed happy to share his story during our conversation.
Josh Hodnik: What athletes are currently working with you and SNAC?
Victor Conte: I have worked with many world-class athletes over the years. I consider myself somewhat retired, so I don't take on many athletes at all. I work with female boxer Marlen Esparza who just won the bronze at the London Olympics. Another fighter that I am working with is bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire. Donaire is one of few fighters that have submitted to year round drug testing with VADA. I work with boxing trainer Virgil Hunter at Undisputed Boxing Gym in San Carlos, CA, and I will occasionally work with a new fighter, but that is not very often.
JH: Are you still a big proponent of mineral testing and finding out people's hormonal status and such?
VC: I have been doing blood testing on athletes for over 16 years. What I found is that most athletes are mineral deficient. This can have a huge impact on performance. I do not believe that this problem can be fixed by taking a multi-mineral that is generally found on most store shelves. Certain minerals can inhibit absorption of other minerals, and most multi-minerals are a combination of many of these minerals that interact with each other. Besides minerals I also look at testosterone, IGF-1, hemoglobin, and white blood cell count.
I was working with athletes and mineral testing years before I was ever involved with PEDs and BALCO. I have worked with over 250 NFL players. I worked with the entire Denver Bronco team when they won back-to-back Super Bowls with John Elway and Bill Romanowski.
JH: Do you think a guy like Novitzky finally showed his true colors when there was talk about his book deal?
VC: Yes I do, he was always out to make a name for himself. It wasn't about getting the people that were actually supplying the steroids. Novitzky had a mission to bring down Barry Bonds and other athletes he could prove were taking steroids. He started working out at the same gym Bonds did, and he would tell all of his friends that he was going to bust Bonds because he was an asshole. It had nothing to do with justice or right and wrong with Novitzky.
JH: What are athletes doing to beat the tests today?
VC: They aren’t doing anything different to pass tests because testing methods haven't changed. They are still testing testosterone/epitestosterone ratios to see if synthetic hormones are being taken. Until carbon isotope testing is performed in all sports, athletes will be able to pass a test with a low dose of fast acting testosterone in a cream or gel.
JH: If I were WADA, why would I need to work with Victor Conte? What information are you bringing to the table that WADA doesn't already know? What new drugs are being used to beat the tests?
VC: I have sat down and met with WADA in person and told them what the problem is with the testing regimen they have in place. EPO and HGH tests are very expensive and rarely done. The current T/E testing system is fairly easy to beat. So until the testing methods are changed, athletes pretty much have free reign to use a variety of PEDs without detection. It seems to me that they have ignored what I have said. They agree that there is widespread drug use in sports, and they say they want it to stop, but their unwillingness to change testing shows me otherwise.
JH: Transdermal Testosterone (patches, creams, etc.) have been available for a very long time - What's new about them and what information are you bringing to the table that WADA or the IOC doesn't know?
VC: There is really nothing new about these testosterone creams and gels. They deliver a low dose of testosterone that is in and out of the system at a very fast rate. This method is preferred because it is the easiest way to pass a test. There is really no reason for athletes and coaches to change methods of doping when testing does not change. I have heard rumors about another undetectable steroid that is now available. I am positive this is false.
JH: Do you work with any bodybuilders?
VC: I do not. The reason for this is simple. I do no advocate drug use and I do not want to be around it. I know most of these guys are taking something illegal. If they get busted and I am working with them, my name is going to be the focus of attention. That is not something I want.
JH: Why are you now a reliable and credible and a valid opportunity for athletes while Angel Heridita isn't....
VC: All know that all of my fighters can pass a test at any time. They are not using PEDs. That is why Nonito Donaire has volunteered to be tested by VADA, who can test 24/7, 365 days a year.
I know that Memo Heredia is working with Usain Bolt and Juan Manuel Marquez. He is probably under investigation right now. This isn't a good thing for any athlete to get wrapped up in.
JH: I know that you now advocate drug free sports after once supplying many top professional and Olympic athletes steroids and other performance enhancing drugs. Do you feel that sports will ever be completely free of drug use?
VC: I know that as long as WADA and USADA continue to ignore what I have told them to do, nothing will change and athletes will always be able to pass a test.
