BALCO drugs shopping list revealed

High-profile US athletes being chased by the US Anti-Doping Agency in the BALCO affair have been shown some of the evidence against them, including a shopping list of illegal drugs and a price list. The documents show being a drug cheat is not cheap. A five-month BALCO program believed to include banned drugs erythropoietin, designer steroids, growth hormone and a testosterone cream costs $US6355 ($9221). In addition there is a mandatory medical program including blood testing at $400 a month, medical consultations costing over $US10,000 and biweekly urine testing - essential for monitoring when an athlete may fail a drugs test. And if an athlete tasted success, the cheques for the company were to keep rolling in. If a client set a personal best time they were to pay BALCO $10,000. For a world record the price is $20,000. World Anti-Doping Agency chief executive David Howman told The Sydney Morning Herald his agency was confident in the USADA processes and revealed "some athletes are talking". He said the USADA was gathering first-hand evidence before charging athletes.