New York Daily News has reviewed the doping calendars that were seized during the BALCO raids, as well as the recently released court transcripts of Shane Mosley’s grand jury testimony, and revealed the boxer had used performance-enhancing drugs in his preparation with his encounter against Oscar Dela Hoya in 2003. The court transcripts were formerly held at protective order until they were released by U.S. District Judge Susan Illston last Wednesday.

From Daily News:

Doping calendars seized in the BALCO raid show that champion boxer Shane Mosley scaled back his use of the notorious doping agent EPO in the two weeks before his Sept. 13 title fight with Oscar De La Hoya, as his blood grew unnaturally thick with oxygen-rich red blood cells.

That corresponds with previous reports that seized medical records showed Mosley’s hematocrit – a measure of red blood cells, and therefore endurance – shooting up 8.2% in just two weeks.

Hematocrit readings rarely fluctuate that much naturally, and usually linger in the low 40s for non-doping men. Anything over 50 will get an Olympic cyclist or marathon runner suspended from competition. Mosley jumped from 44 to 52.2 in two weeks as he prepared for the fight, according to a Sept. 28, 2007 report by Sports Illustrated.

In his testimony in 2003, Mosley admitted he used the blood booster EPO and anabolic steroids he bought from BALCO for $1850. He also admitted he had used the designer drugs referred to as “the cream” and “the clear”, but he insisted publicly and in his testimony that he didn’t know they were either illegal or banned.

Victor Conte, BALCO’s founder, however, said Mosley knew what he was taking.  Conte is being sued for defamation by Mosley.

Conte wrote said in a sworn statement submitted in the defamation case: “Specifically, I explained to Mr. Mosley and Mr. Hudson (Mosley’s trainer at the time) that ‘The Clear’ was an undetectable anabolic steroid and that ‘The Cream’ contained testosterone and epitestosterone. I explained that ‘The Cream’ was primarily to be used as a masking agent. I also explained that EPO increases the production of red blood cells, and therefore Mr. Mosley should take additional dietary supplements that aid in the manufacture of red blood cells, such as iron, vitamin C, vitamin E, folic acid, and vitamin B12. … There is no question that I informed Mr. Mosley that he was taking the three banned performance enhancing drugs.”

Tags: anabolic steroids, BALCO, Barry Bonds, court transcripts, EPO, Performance enhancing drugs, Shane Mosley, steroids, Victor Conte

Posted in steroid nation, Steroids and Anabolic Steroids, Steroids in Boxing, Steroids in Sports