BALCO

BALCO, short for Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative, was a California laboratory founded in 1984 by Victor Conte and colleagues. Located in the San Francisco Bay Area, BALCO offered biochemical testing and related services, along with nutritional products and research aimed at athletic performance. The company later became widely known for its involvement in a major doping scandal that emerged in the early 2000s.

The BALCO scandal centered on allegations that the laboratory supplied performance‑enhancing drugs to high‑profile athletes. Among the substances linked to the case was tetrahydrogestrinone (THG), a designer steroid also known as "the clear," along with other compounds such as growth hormone. The affair exposed gaps in anti‑doping controls and revealed illicit networks that could distribute PEDs to athletes across several sports, including track and field and baseball.

Legal and disciplinary actions followed the investigations. Victor Conte and several associates faced charges, and Conte pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute steroids and related offenses as part of a plea agreement, receiving a sentence that included probation. The case also led to admissions and suspensions by athletes connected to BALCO, and it contributed to broader reforms in anti‑doping policy, testing, and enforcement across multiple sports.

The BALCO brand and its operations were significantly affected by the investigations, and its prominence declined in the wake of the scandal. Today, BALCO is remembered as a notable episode in the history of sports doping, illustrating the emergence of designer PEDs and the ongoing challenges of detecting and policing performance enhancement.