American magazine Muscle and Fitness questions influence of Victor Conte on baseball megastar Barry Bonds' record-breaking success.
In the summer the American magazine Muscle and Fitness, examining the secret of baseball megastar Barry Bonds' record-breaking success, cited the player's genes and his early training - his father and godfather were also Major League greats - but also focused on the influence of one Victor Conte.
A bass guitarist on the California scene in the 70s, Conte gave up life on the stage to become a nutritionist to the stars. Over 15 years he built up a formidable client list, advising baseball and football teams, tennis stars and Olympic athletes including sprint champion Marion Jones.
Conte, 53, opened a holistic health centre in Millbrae, California and in 1984 founded the Bay Area Laboratory Co-operative (Balco).He discovered that elite athletes were often deficient in specific minerals such as iron, zinc, copper and magnesium. In 2000 he began working with Bonds, holder of the record for the most home runs in a season. In the interview with Muscle and Fitness, Bonds said: "I visit Balco every three to six months. They check my blood to make sure my levels are what they should be. Maybe my zinc and magnesium level intakes need to increase and I need more ZMA [a product developed by Conte which is promoted as building muscle and power by increasing testosterone without using anabolic steroids]." Conte has attracted controversy before, most notably through his association with shot putter CJ Hunter, banned for two years in 2000, and world sprint champion Kelli White, who tested positive for a 'designer steroid' in August. But the coming months could make him famous in his own right.
No comments:
Post a Comment