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Victor Conte, central figure in one of the biggest performance-enhancing drug scandals in sporting history, has died at the age of 75.
Conte’s company, Scientific Nutrition for Advanced Conditioning (SNAC), announced his death in an article on X, saying he was battling pancreatic cancer.
“We are heartbroken by the passing of our fearless leader,” the message read. “We will honor his wishes. SNAC and its legacy will live on, strong and forever. We LOVE you, Conte!”
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Victor Conte, founder of BALCO, died at the age of 75. His company, SNAC, announced his death on social media. (IMAGINE)
Conte’s previous company, BALCO, made national headlines in 2003 when federal agents raided the company and his home in Northern California as part of an investigation into the steroids scandal that rocked several sports leagues, including Major League Baseball.
He then pleaded guilty in 2005 to conspiracy to distribute steroids and money laundering, admitting to providing performance-enhancing drugs to several high-profile athletes, including Barry Bonds, baseball’s home run king, and Olympic gold medalist Marion Jones.
MARLON BYRD NO QUALITY TO WORK WITH CONTE
While Conte expressed remorse for his role, he also reflected on his controversial legacy in a Netflix documentary:
“When Marion Jones crossed the finish line and won the gold medal, when Barry Bonds hit all those home runs, you know, any of those great accomplishments, those are things I’ll always be proud of.”
Victor Conte, founder of BALCO, speaks with the media at the federal courthouse following his sentencing in the BALCO steroids case, October 18, 2005, in San Francisco, California. The case, which brought international attention to the use of steroids by athletes, ended today with Victor Conte sentenced to 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 conviction.
Conte’s SNAC developed and sold natural supplements, but he was not completely excluded from the sport. He was an advisor to the boxing world, with clients including Terence “Bud” Crawford and Claressa Shields.
That’s not to say Conte didn’t still have his detractors, as Crawford’s last fight against Canelo Alvarez sparked some skeptics who thought he might cheat with Conte on his team.
“Please don’t make too much of the negativity from my past,” Conte said via USA TODAY before Crawford’s unanimous decision victory over Alvarez to make him a three-belt champion.
Founder and Chairman of BALCO, Victor Conte speaks during the panel discussion “Tribeca Talks: Injecting The American Dream” at the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival on May 3, 2008 in New York. (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.
