Andre Berto is the latest name fighter in boxing to add controversial former BALCO head Victor Conte to his team, and says in an interview with Ryan Maquiñana that Conte has helped him get into even better shape in his most recent training camp. Berto challenges for the IBF welterweight belt on September 3 against Jan Zaveck, on HBO.
Here's what Berto says about Conte:
"At the end of the day, we might have a target on our back, but they can test us all day long. Victor’s right. Performance enhancing drugs is very rampant in boxing. We know that for sure, but we’re definitely probably like the cleanest athletes here. We’re taking the right things we need for our bodies, just trying to get the best out of our bodies without stepping to the dark side. ... Before, we just trained until we dropped. We pretty much would just grind ourselves to the ground. It finally caught up with me. But now we try to train smarter, make sure the rest is very important as much as we work."
Conte also works with notables such as Andre Ward, Nonito Donaire, and Zab Judah, and his involvement in boxing is pretty significant. This is a man who years ago was far ahead of the testing curve with designer performance-enhancing drugs, and frankly he probably still has that sort of knowledge. It's an open question about him, in my opinion. It's not something that should just be ignored. Yes, he did his time, and no, I don't think he's some kind of monster or anything, but he's a guy who has aided rampant cheating in the past.
Do I doubt that Conte could be effective at this job in an entirely legal matter? No, I do not. He could be an incredible conditioning coach and keep things on the up-and-up. He's a very smart man and there's no reason to think he couldn't be an excellent coach for any number of athletes. But I can't say as though I blame the skeptics, and Conte and his fighters understand the skeptics, too. To a man thus far, they've expressed their faith in him and their willingness to be tested. Chicago Cubs outfielder Marlon Byrd is also a client of Conte's now, and he has said the same things.
I'll admit I'm one of the skeptics, though. His past is a big red flag, and it's hard to not question his involvement in any sport.
Here's what Berto says about Conte:
"At the end of the day, we might have a target on our back, but they can test us all day long. Victor’s right. Performance enhancing drugs is very rampant in boxing. We know that for sure, but we’re definitely probably like the cleanest athletes here. We’re taking the right things we need for our bodies, just trying to get the best out of our bodies without stepping to the dark side. ... Before, we just trained until we dropped. We pretty much would just grind ourselves to the ground. It finally caught up with me. But now we try to train smarter, make sure the rest is very important as much as we work."
Conte also works with notables such as Andre Ward, Nonito Donaire, and Zab Judah, and his involvement in boxing is pretty significant. This is a man who years ago was far ahead of the testing curve with designer performance-enhancing drugs, and frankly he probably still has that sort of knowledge. It's an open question about him, in my opinion. It's not something that should just be ignored. Yes, he did his time, and no, I don't think he's some kind of monster or anything, but he's a guy who has aided rampant cheating in the past.
Do I doubt that Conte could be effective at this job in an entirely legal matter? No, I do not. He could be an incredible conditioning coach and keep things on the up-and-up. He's a very smart man and there's no reason to think he couldn't be an excellent coach for any number of athletes. But I can't say as though I blame the skeptics, and Conte and his fighters understand the skeptics, too. To a man thus far, they've expressed their faith in him and their willingness to be tested. Chicago Cubs outfielder Marlon Byrd is also a client of Conte's now, and he has said the same things.
I'll admit I'm one of the skeptics, though. His past is a big red flag, and it's hard to not question his involvement in any sport.
