Bay Area Laboratory Co-operative

The Bay Area Laboratory Co-operative (BALCO) was a sports nutrition company based in California, known for supplying supplements and performance-enhancing drugs. Its notoriety arose from a 2003 scandal involving the distribution of illegal steroids and doping products to elite athletes, including some prominent track and field stars. Investigations revealed BALCO's role in providing banned substances, leading to criminal charges and significant reforms in sports doping policies. The case highlighted issues of athlete integrity and the challenges in detecting performance-enhancing drugs in competitive sports.