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Victor Conte, a central figure in one of the biggest performance-enhancing drug scandals in sports history, has died at the age of 75.
Conte’s company, Scientific Nutrition for Advanced Conditioning (SNAC), announced his death in a post on X, saying he had been battling pancreatic cancer.
“We are heartbroken by the passing of our fearless leader,” the post said. “We will honor your wishes. SNAC and its legacy will carry on, strong and forever. We LOVE you, Conte!”
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Víctor Conte, founder of BALCO, died at the age of 75. His company, SNAC, announced his death on social media. (IMAGE)
Conte’s previous company, BALCO, made national headlines in 2003 when federal agents raided the business and his home in Northern California as part of an investigation into the steroids scandal that rocked several sports leagues, especially Major League Baseball.
He later pleaded guilty in 2005 to conspiracy to distribute steroids and money laundering, admitting to supplying performance-enhancing drugs to several high-profile athletes, including Barry Bonds, baseball’s home run king, and Olympic gold medalist Marion Jones.
MARLON BYRD HAS NO DOUBT ABOUT WORKING WITH CONTE
While Conte expressed remorse for his role, he also reflected on his controversial legacy in a Netflix documentary:
“When Marion Jones came across the finish line and won the gold medal, when Barry Bonds hit all these home runs, you know, any of these big accomplishments, those are things I’ll always be proud of.”
Victor Conte, founder of BALCO, speaks to the media in Federal Court after his sentencing in the BALCO steroid case on October 18, 2005, in San Francisco, California. The case, which drew international attention to steroid use by athletes, came to an end today when Victor Conte received four months in prison and four months of house arrest. (David Paul Morris/Getty Images)
Conte ended up serving four months in a low-security federal prison in California as part of his sentence.
Conte’s SNAC developed and sold natural supplements, but they didn’t completely ban him from sports. He was an advisor in the world of boxing, with clients such as Terence “Bud” Crawford and Claressa Shields.
That’s not to say Conte didn’t still have his detractors, as Crawford’s most recent fight against Canelo Alvarez generated skeptics who believed he might be cheating with Conte on his team.
“Please don’t overemphasize the negativity of my past,” Conte said via USA TODAY before Crawford’s unanimous victory over Alvarez to make him a three-belt champion.
Victor Conte, founder and president of BALCO, speaks at the “Tribeca Talks: Injecting The American Dream” panel discussion during the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival on May 3, 2008 in New York City. (Scott Wintrow/Getty Images)
Conte was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in May, but continued to work with athletes from his hospital bed in his final months.
