BALCO's Victor Conte is working with athletes again

March 12, 1:12 PMSports ExaminerPaula Duffy

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Victor Conte Photo: AP/Margot

The man who started all the hoopla surrounding Barry Bonds, Marion Jones and others, Victor Conte, has resumed advising Dwain Chambers, a former client.

Chambers, a British sprinter, who was suspended for two years after testing positive for THG in 2003, has linked up with Conte to try again. This time with legal activities.

He admits he was what he calls a "walking junkie". He uses that phrase in his book that goes on sale this week, "Race Against Me: My Story".

In the book he confesses to taking up to 300 mixtures of banned substances after he and Conte hooked up in 2002. He also names fellow track and field athletes who shared his love of all things BALCO.

Conte, who pleaded guilty to running a steroids distribution business was imprisoned for four months. He has Chambers using a device to boost oxygen capacity and red blood cell count that is legal under the World Anti-Doping Agency rules.

The device known as the AltoLab Altitude Simulator has been limited to use by endurance athletes. It simulates training at high altitudes. Chambers is the first sprinter that Conte knows of that has added it to his training regimen.

Chambers recently became the new European record holder in the 60 meters. He understands skeptics wondering if he is off the illegal cocktails. I'll bet.