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Report: A-Rod Met With BALCO Founder For Legal Supplements

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) — Alex Rodriguez sought advice on legal nutritional supplements from the head of the company at the center of the largest federal criminal investigation into sports doping, according to the New York Daily News.

Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative founder Victor Conte told the Daily News that Rodriguez did not ask him for illegal drugs and they mostly talked about legal products. The 38-year-old slugger and Conte spoke at a meeting in May 2012.

"(A-Rod) was real secretive," Conte's daughter, Veronica, told the Daily News. "He wanted to make sure no one was here."

She added: "He was basically saying, 'I can't have any trace of Victor Conte.' "

A-Rod recently rejoined the Yankees after spending the first four months of the season finishing rehab from January hip surgery. He has been playing while he appeals the 211-game doping suspension he received last week.

BALCO was the clinic investigated by federal agents that ultimately led to Barry Bonds' conviction on obstruction of justice charges.

Conte said he met with MLB investigators last week.

"They said they were here because they wanted me to help them with anything to do with A-Rod and MLB," Conte told the Daily News. "They came to me for help and I did the best I could."

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