Author Topic: BALCO Founder Victor Conte Banned From Olympia? (Read 3290 times)

Speedbuff · « **on:** July 14, 2007, 12:23:59 AM »

Talk about hypocrisy. Who will they ban from the Olympia Expo next?
The media?

BALCO Founder Victor Conte Banned From Olympia!
Written by John Romano
July 13, 2007

My good friend Victor Conte called me yesterday and laid this crazy story on me. Over two months ago, Victor reserved and paid - via credit card - for booth space at the Mr. Olympia Expo. He was hoping to showcase the nutritional products being sold by his new company, SNAC. He also went ahead and booked airfare and hotel rooms in Vegas for himself and several of his staff.

Yesterday, Victor received a phonecall from someone at Weider named "Craig" who effectively told him that an upper level management decision was made and they nixed his reservation. His credit card deposit was refunded and the matter was closed without any attempt on Weider/AMI's part to explain their decision. Clearly, Victor's prior involvement in the biggest doping scandal in sports history has made him persona non grata at the Olympia.

Other than the unfairness of it all, this "upper level management decision" reeks of hypocrisy! Think about it, the guy accused and convicted of giving steroids to athletes is banned from the Olympia; while the guys taking them are the very reason everyone is attending to begin with!

SWOLETRAIN · « **Reply #1 on:** July 14, 2007, 12:28:25 AM »

Is this BS.. is would that even be legal?s

Speedbuff · « **Reply #2 on:** July 14, 2007, 12:35:05 AM »

Good question. Can they legally ban somebody from participating in an event because they have a steroid stigma? This may be bound for the Supreme Court.

BuffGoddess · « **Reply #3 on:** July 14, 2007, 12:40:22 AM »

Politics!!! It's all politics...I wish we didn't have to deal with this kind of crap in the bodybuilding world. Since he's seen as part of our existence then he's going to be condemned as well as any bodybuilders who are associated with him..Why can't the "little man" leave us alone?

Speedbuff · « **Reply #4 on:** July 14, 2007, 12:50:36 AM »

This may be about more than politics. It may be about fear. Steroid scandals in baseball, football and wrestling. Could bodybuilding be next? Are the suits still trying to get bodybuilding into the Olympic Games?

BuffGoddess · « **Reply #5 on:** July 14, 2007, 01:00:46 AM »

Quote from: Speedbuff on July 14, 2007, 12:50:36 AM

This may be about more than politics. It may be about fear. Steroid scandals in baseball, football and wrestling. Could bodybuilding be next? Are the suits still trying to get bodybuilding into the Olympic Games?

That is so true..fear and politics go hand in hand...whatever they don't understand, they fear, and then try to destroy through whatever methods are available. Incite the public (who know nothing of steroids and their use) to a ferver over something they don't understand and make steroids the culprit in everything IE the Chris Benoit case...

musclecenter · « **Reply #6 on:** July 14, 2007, 01:02:29 AM »

According to USA Today - Jul 13
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/2007-07-12-balco-leak_N.htm?csp=34

Attorney sentenced to 30 months in BALCO leak case

Speedbuff · « **Reply #7 on:** July 14, 2007, 01:21:10 AM »

Conte still in the supplement game - USA Today

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/2007-07-08-conte-cover_N.htm

Wonder if this article had anything to do with why he got banned from the Olympia?

BuffGoddess · « **Reply #8 on:** July 14, 2007, 01:51:25 AM »

It really angers me the way the public always jumps to the conclusion that steroids are the culprit in everything. Look at the Chris Benoit case...they are blaming steroids for his breakdown...but how many other mutha-fuckas- have done the same thing in the last few months? They weren't on steroids! Perhaps it's the cheese they all ate the weeks before! Let's all boycott cheddar cheese! Do you see how rediculous that is? Banning Victor Conte is also the hight of stupidity! What people decide to do with their bodies, should not be visited on the supplier. I will now and always be a supporter of his. This is one lady who has the balls to speak up.

Dballn247 · « **Reply #9 on:** July 14, 2007, 03:55:41 AM »

Hopefully when he reserved his booth he got a contract. It's all good that they returned his money and what not, but we must not forget about the fact that he has lost an opportunity to generate revenue. I think if there was a contract of adhesion and it was broken with out a disclosed reason a lawsuit may be on the horizon. F the IFBB. Victor is responsible for half of the pro physiques and major league sports stars. That would be like un-inviting Arnold. Victor is sort of a Pseudo sponsor if you get my drift.

Pollux · « **Reply #10 on:** July 14, 2007, 04:07:28 AM »

That's a bunch of crap. Victor was involved in a steroid scandal, yet the competitors themselves are using them...or is just MuscleTech products they use?

Dballn247 · « **Reply #11 on:** July 14, 2007, 04:43:51 AM »

Quote from: Pollux on July 14, 2007, 04:07:28 AM

That's a bunch of crap. Victor was involved in a steroid scandal, yet the competitors themselves are using them...or is just MuscleTech products they use?

Last I checked MLB is still letting Barry Bonds play. IFBB is just a really elite organization.

1stkeepitreal · « **Reply #12 on:** July 14, 2007, 05:11:37 AM »

Quote from: Speedbuff on July 14, 2007, 12:23:59 AM

Talk about hypocrisy. Who will they ban from the Olympia Expo next?
The media?

BALCO Founder Victor Conte Banned From Olympia!
Written by John Romano
July 13, 2007

My good friend Victor Conte called me yesterday and laid this crazy story on me. Over two months ago, Victor reserved and paid - via credit card - for booth space at the Mr. Olympia Expo. He was hoping to showcase the nutritional products being sold by his new company, SNAC. He also went ahead and booked airfare and hotel rooms in Vegas for himself and several of his staff.

Yesterday, Victor received a phonecall from someone at Weider named "Craig" who effectively told him that an upper level management decision was made and they nixed his reservation. His credit card deposit was refunded and the matter was closed without any attempt on Weider/AMI's part to explain their decision. Clearly, Victor's prior involvement in the biggest doping scandal in sports history has made him persona non grata at the Olympia.

Other than the unfairness of it all, this "upper level management decision" reeks of hypocrisy! Think about it, the guy accused and convicted of giving steroids to athletes is banned from the Olympia; while the guys taking them are the very reason everyone is attending to begin with!

The Craig you are speaking of is probably Craig Titus working pro bono for the Wieder offices.

Wombat · « **Reply #13 on:** July 14, 2007, 05:30:32 AM »

Who would want this piece of shit anywhere near them....Now he's getting rich slinging bogus supplements to kids...

Speedbuff · « **Reply #14 on:** July 14, 2007, 01:44:57 PM »

Wonder how many people who have been allowed to have booths at the Olympia Expo have some sort of steroid related criminal history? Is he being banned simply based upon his level of profile? Will they take someone's money as long as the steroid stigma is not beyond a 6 on a scale of one to ten?
How about Victor Martinez being banned because of his past legal history involving steroids? Should Victor also be banned as a competitor?

JaggyShortBuff · « **Reply #15 on:** July 14, 2007, 01:53:41 PM »

Another fucking dumbass move on the IFBB's part...People wonder why no one takes bodybuilding seriously....

Pollux · « **Reply #16 on:** July 14, 2007, 02:39:06 PM »

Quote from: Neurotoxin on July 14, 2007, 05:23:25 AM

conte should be in jail for dispensing meds. without a license.

many of his athletes are banned from competition and this scumbag drives around in his new bentley, acting like a celebrity.

fvck him.

You sound like one of the athletes.

hangclean · « **Reply #17 on:** July 14, 2007, 02:52:18 PM »

Quote from: Neurotoxin on July 14, 2007, 05:23:25 AM

conte should be in jail for dispensing meds. without a license.

many of his athletes are banned from competition and this scumbag drives around in his new bentley, acting like a celebrity.

fvck him.

Even worse is the fact that Greg Anderson is in jail and Victor is not. How do you explain that??

G o a t b o y · « **Reply #18 on:** July 14, 2007, 03:00:30 PM »

Too bad Victor isn't a kneegrow... he could pull the "discrimination" card and sue. Jesse and everone else would show up and give sound bites for the cameras.

A poor White boy's got no recourse.

akers1021 · « **Reply #19 on:** July 14, 2007, 03:33:08 PM »

Quote from: BuffGoddess on July 14, 2007, 01:51:25 AM

It really angers me the way the public always jumps to the conclusion that steroids are the culprit in everything. Look at the Chris Benoit case...they are blaming steroids for his breakdown...but how many other mutha-fuckas- have done the same thing in the last few months? They weren't on steroids! Perhaps it's the cheese they all ate the weeks before! Let's all boycott cheddar cheese! Do you see how rediculous that is? Banning Victor Conte is also the hight of stupidity! What people decide to do with their bodies, should not be visited on the supplier. I will now and always be a supporter of his. This is one lady who has the balls to speak up.

They are protecting the way the are portrayed by the "regular" public. They don't want the negative publicity of having him there, it would hurt ticket sales. Not this year, but next year you would have those "regular" people NOT buying tickets because they might not agree with him being there even though they KNOW that aas plays a huge role. He is looked at as a CRIMINAL they don't want that there period.

I wonder if Jason Arntz will be banned too

Speedbuff · « **Reply #20 on:** July 14, 2007, 06:19:04 PM »

Is having a steroid conviction really a reasonable explanation for banning someone from having an Olympia booth? Maybe that's a right that
all Americans with a felony should lose along with the right to vote. Patrick Arnold, Victor Martinez, Dave Palumbo and many other industry members with a similar history will be participating at the expo. So, that can't be the real reason. Seems to be more about a fear of the mainstream media bringing a zoom lens. Maybe Governor Arnold will step up and give Conte a pardon.

G o a t b o y · « **Reply #21 on:** July 14, 2007, 08:24:47 PM »

Quote from: akers1021 on July 14, 2007, 03:33:08 PM

They are protecting the way the are portrayed by the "regular" public. They don't want the negative publicity of having him there, it would hurt ticket sales. Not this year, but next year you would have those "regular" people NOT buying tickets because they might not agree with him being there even though they KNOW that aas plays a huge role. He is looked at as a CRIMINAL they don't want that there period.

I wonder if Jason Arntz will be banned too

That's a crock... "regular" (mainstream) people do not attend the Olympia and never will. No way in Hell Conte being there would effect ticket sales.

Ron · « **Reply #22 on:** July 15, 2007, 12:23:28 AM »

You are talking about having a booth at the expo, not Victor Conte being banned for attending. There is a difference.

G o a t b o y · « **Reply #23 on:** July 15, 2007, 10:49:24 AM »

Quote from: Ron on July 15, 2007, 12:23:28 AM

You are talking about having a booth at the expo, not Victor Conte being banned for attending. There is a difference.

So that somehow makes it okay?

The people at Weider are unprofessional idiots who make arbitrary decisions for the express purpose of screwing with people they don't like. Real businesses don't run that way.

knny187 · « **Reply #24 on:** July 15, 2007, 10:56:57 AM »

Ok folks....here's a real question & maybe Milos can answer....

"What is Victor's relationship now with Milos & do they still have a friendship/working relationship?"

Just curious if one thing is related to another