Business of Sport/Daire O'Brien: Nutritional supplements are big business. In fact, in 1999, it was estimated they were worth $31 billion. Therefore it should come as no surprise after the revelations this week in San Francisco that a dietary and nutritional suppliers, BALCO Labs, was the source of a previously undetectable designer drug, tetrahydrogestrinone (THG), which is now threatening to be the biggest drugs scandal to hit sport.

Victor Conte, founder of BALCO, has a chequered past. He is under federal investigation for money laundering and fraudulent Medicare claims totalling over $1 million. His brother, Michael, was also found guilty of similar bogus healthcare claims in 2000. Now Victor stands accused of trafficking in steroids.

The problem - becoming more apparent in light of the THG case - is that the dietary and nutritional supplement industry is mushrooming but is as yet unregulated.

But while up to 40 athletes have been subpoenaed before a grand jury in America to testify in the case against Conte, it must be remembered this case is actually for tax fraud, and that, as with Al Capone, could be Conte's downfall while the development of THG may go unpunished.

While no one can put an exact figure on how much the illegal doping industry is worth in sport, it is an industry worth millions of dollars every year and is continuing to grow and prosper.

To put it in perspective, some estimate the cost of designer drugs at up to $15,000 for two months, although this end of the market would be affordable only to the elite athletes in sport.

The long-term effects of using and being caught, however, are significant: if Britain's Dwain Chambers is found guilty and suspended he can expect to lose his sponsorship contracts worth an estimated £2 million.

Dr Ivan Waddington, author of Sport, Health and Drugs and visiting professor to the Centre for Sports Studies, UCD, says that while people are focusing on the science and technology side of the THG story, what needs to reasserted is that we are talking about the story of a private commercial enterprise.

"We shouldn't forget that BALCO is a private business and is one that doesn't just invest in developing new molecular structures of drugs unless there is a substantial market for it and interested buyers."

But can sports authorities ever hope to catch up with the dopers and those willing to profit from its development?

The World Anti-Doping Agency gives about $5 million a year to research and development into ways to tackle new drugs that appear, while the United States Anti-Doping Agency puts about $3 million into its own research.

But when compared to the $31 billion turnover of the nutritional supplements industry in the US alone, it is obvious where the real power lies.

Over 200,000 people each year visit these shores, bringing in over €110 million to the Irish economy from walking holidays. But the worth and popularity of the walking industry here could be affected unless disputes between walkers and landowners and farmers over access can be resolved and rights of ways developed, according to the National Waymarked Ways body at the Irish Sports Council.

The most recent statistics from Fáilte Ireland, from 2001, put walking's worth at €113 million from overseas visitors, while overseas golfers spent some €130 million.

Remarkably, while the expenditure and worth of this relatively passive pastime are extensive, they pale when compared to Scotland which is considered to have one of the most developed walking industries in Europe.

Estimates there put holidaymakers who included walking as part of their holiday at generating 3.6 million trips and spending £854 million for 2002.

According to Cormac McDonnell, development officer for National Waymarked Ways, the British model needs to be looked at to encourage more walkers to come to Ireland.

"The UK is pretty well developed in walking terms, with a huge network of trails and rights of ways, plus it has very solid funding and structures in place."

But, he says, Scotland's terrain of Highland Hills is one that can be aimed directly at the specific walker. Ireland, in contrast, has a more gentle terrain.

"If you want the adrenalin rush you can go to New Zealand or Mont Blanc in France," he says. "Ireland is more suited to the recreational walker; we don't have severe terrains like other countries. "Our landscape is more reflective of our society and scenic aspect than anything else."

The announcement that David Beckham had parted company with his sports agency, SFX, came as a shock and was something of a blow to the sports sponsorship and representation business - or so you would think.

Attempts this week to gauge reaction to the departure of Beckham from SFX were all met by stern silence. The top sports management and representative companies in Britain were all contacted to ask for their opinions and assessment of the David Beckham-SFX story. But, not one would comment.

Despite being in a cut-throat and highly competitive market, all the companies, it appears, have a friendly relationship with SFX and do not wish to damage that relationship. When SFX was asked whether Beckham had left the company no response was given.

So much for thinking that losing your biggest and most high-profile client, who pulls in an estimated £10 million in sponsorship a year, would result in long-term damage and a weakening of your company's position within in the market.

So just what is SFX and why does it hold such sway over the industry? SFX is part of Clear Channel, a worldwide live entertainment company worth €21.5 billion which owns venues and media channels in 63 countries. The company has 1,200 radio stations, with 110 million listeners a week in the US, and it is also the biggest venue operator, putting on 26,000 events per year. It also claims to reach half of all US adults via highway billboards and ads in malls, airports and city centres.

Owned by Robert FX Sillerman, a publicity-shy New Yorker, it has been described as the "Cookie Monster" of the entertainment industry because of its policy of buying up smaller companies. For example, through its purchase of the US agency Fame, SFX's clients now include basketball legend Michael Jordan.

With that kind of muscle behind you, it is little wonder then that your rivals don't see Beckham leaving as weakening the company or as an opportunity to take advantage of.

51p - The share price of Celtic FC in the wake of their Champions League defeat to Anderlecht.

84 -The number of properties which Manchester City striker Robbie Fowler owns.