Lab chief set to lift lid on drugs in US sport

Balco founder Victor Conte has vowed to “tell the truth” about drugs in sport in an American television interview on Friday.

Speaking after a judge refused to dismiss criminal charges against him and three other men, Conte told www.usatoday.com: “The world does not know the truth about performance-enhancing drugs in sports.

“I will tell the truth because I know it.”

A grand-jury indictment this year accused Bay Area Laboratories Co-Operative founder Conte, BALCO executive James Valente, track coach Remi Korchemny and Barry Bonds’ trainer Greg Anderson of conspiring to distribute steroids and other charges.

Since the scandal broke last year, some of the biggest stars in sport – from San Francisco Giants baseball star Bonds to Olympic sprint champion Marion Jones - have been accused of using illegal steroids. Both have denied the allegations.

US District Judge Susan Illston indicated she probably would reject several motions by defence attorneys to throw out the Justice Department’s case, saying “my preliminary view is to deny everything“.

The next hearing has been set for January 31 and the judge said she would like the trial to start in March.