Victor Conte, Infamous Sports Figure, Dies at 75 After Cancer Battle

Fresno, California — Victor Conte, the controversial figure behind one of the largest steroid scandals in sports history, passed away on November 3 at the age of 75. His company, Scientific Nutrition for Advanced Conditioning (SNAC), announced his death on social media, mentioning that he had been undergoing treatment for pancreatic cancer this year.

“We are Heartbroken by the Passing of our Fearless Leader… We will Honor his Wishes. SNAC and his Legacy will Carry Forward, Strong and Forever. We LOVE you, Conte!” the post read.

Conte gained notoriety in 2003 when federal agents raided his business, BALCO, amid a broader investigation into steroid use in sports. He pled guilty in 2005 to conspiracy to distribute steroids and money laundering, involving high-profile athletes like Barry Bonds and Marion Jones. He served four months in a minimum-security federal prison in Taft, California.

Despite being ostracized by the sports community, Conte remained a provocative and influential figure. Following the closure of BALCO, he founded SNAC, claiming to provide natural supplements. He also made a return as an adviser in professional boxing, representing champions like Terence Crawford and Claressa Shields.

In an interview, Conte characterized these boxers’ fields as “the redlight district.” He later became known as an anti-doping advocate, stating, “I realized, you know what, we do live in a society of second chances, and I’m going to do my best to become a role model.” However, critics like Jeff Novitzky, who led the BALCO investigation, remained skeptical of Conte’s sincerity.

<p“He’ll take any publicity as long as his name is in the lights," Novitzky told Netflix for a documentary about the scandal. “So, I don’t think you can believe a word the guy says.”

As he faced health challenges, Conte urged others not to focus too much on his past. “Please don’t stress the negativity of my past too much,” he said before Crawford’s fight against Canelo Alvarez. Despite expressing regret for the BALCO scandal, he also celebrated the achievements of athletes involved, stating, “Those are things that I’ll always be proud of.”

Born on January 10, 1950, in Fresno, Conte initially rose to fame as a musician in the late 1970s with the funk band Tower of Power before turning his focus to enhancing athletic performance. In 1984, he established BALCO in a pursuit of sports science. However, the venture ended with a raid in 2003.

Conte reflected on his tumultuous life in a Netflix documentary, admitting that the scandal negatively impacted his family. “I was a horrible father,” he lamented, acknowledging the uncertainty it brought to his daughters’ lives. Remarkably, he claimed the scandal ultimately boosted his new supplement venture.

In recent years, Tran’s life story took a darker turn. After announcing his pancreatic cancer diagnosis in May, he continued advising boxers like Crawford even from his hospital bed. “Terence is the most scientifically prepared boxer in the world,” he stated, emphasizing their successful working relationship.

Though he planned to attend Crawford’s fight against Alvarez on September 11 in Las Vegas, he remained hospitalized ahead of the event. “I will watch the fight no matter how I feel,” Conte promised. His passing marks the end of a complex legacy that intertwined fame, scandal, and a fight for redemption.