Conte: As much as half MLB players using performance-enhancing drugs

Victor Conte said he knew Melky Cabrera was cheating. (Scott Wintrow/Getty Images)

Victor Conte, the former founder of BALCO, told USA Today’s Bob Nightengale he knew Melky Cabrera was cheating before the San Francisco Giants outfielder was suspended by Major League Baseball for using synthetic testosterone. Conte believes “as much as half” of current MLB players are using performance-enhancing drugs.

Wait, you're saying that 50% of baseball players might still be cheating today, when the steroid era is supposed to be over? "We use the very best, most sophisticated methodologies that are available.''

"I'm not going to name names," Conte said, "but I've talked to a lot of top players in Major League Baseball, and they tell me this is what they're doing. There is rampant use of synthetic testosterone in Major League Baseball."

Major League Baseball, which insists it has the most stringent drug-testing program in American sports, has difficulty believing the numbers could be that high.

"There is no way that Victor Conte would have information that would allow him to have any basis on that," MLB vice president Rob Manfred told USA TODAY Sports. "He's just making that up. It's a guess.