Conte, in his sworn declaration filed Friday, said that, "I explained the benefits of using three illegal performance-enhancing drugs commonly referred to as EPO, The Clear, and The Cream. Specifically, I explained to Mr. Mosley and Mr. Hudson that The Clear was an undetectable anabolic steroid and that The Cream contained testosterone and epitestosterone.
". . . . I told Mr. Mosley and Mr. Hudson that in addition to assisting with red blood cell production, EPO enhances oxygen uptake and utilization, which is important in a sport requiring stamina and endurance like boxing. I further explained that EPO's effects would provide Mr. Mosley with an advantage late in the fight with Oscar De La Hoya."
In September 2003, Mosley captured a unanimous decision over De La Hoya in Las Vegas by winning the final three rounds on all three judges' scorecards.
The boxer (with a record of 44-5 with 37 knockouts) claims in his suit against Conte that the convicted steroid distributor and money launderer who served four months in federal prison was motivated to identify Mosley as a steroid user to boost sales of a book Conte is writing about BALCO, due out Sept. 2.
Conte's company had ties with several elite athletes, including baseball's Barry Bonds and former Olympic champion sprinter Marion Jones, before a September 2003 raid by federal law enforcement agents led to its downfall.
Mosley repeated in a five-page declaration filed last week that Conte never told him the supplements he received were illegal and he is requesting a speedy trial in an effort to clear his name before Conte's book is published.
"I cannot begin to explain how devastating Conte's false allegations have been to me," Mosley wrote. " . . . I believe that I have carved out an important place for myself in the sport's history. All of my life's work is at risk because of Conte's lies. . . . I have a brand based upon the highest reputation for sportsmanship, and that brand is being irreparably tarnished by Conte."
Mosley said the Conte book and publicity tour would link the boxer to illegal drugs to such a degree it will not be "fixable."
Conte responded that he answered reporters' questions honestly, and ridiculed Mosley's claim that he paid $1,650 for what he thought were vitamins from BALCO. Conte said in his declaration that there is "no question" he informed Mosley that he was using "three banned performance-enhancing drugs."
Mosley split with Hudson shortly after the BALCO raid. He was supposed to fight Zab Judah in a welterweight bout today, but a Judah injury has forced Mosley to seek another opponent.
At a Friday hearing in a federal courtroom in San Francisco, Judge Jeffrey S. White told attorneys it'd be impossible to conduct a summer trial on the case, but urged both sides to work for a trial before year's end. Conte's attorneys filed a motion to dismiss the case that will be heard during the summer.
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lance.pugmire@latimes.com
