Victor Conte, BALCO steroids scandal mastermind, useless at 75 from most cancers

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Victor Conte , the central determine in one of many largest performance-enhancing drug scandals in sports activities historical past, has died at age 75.

Conte’s firm, Scientific Vitamin for Superior Conditioning (SNAC), introduced his demise in a post on X , saying he had been battling pancreatic most cancers.

"We're Heartbroken by the Passing of our Fearless Chief," the submit acknowledged. "We'll Honor his Needs. SNAC and his Legacy will Carry Ahead, Sturdy and Perpetually. We LOVE you, Conte!"

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Victor Conte, BALCO founder, has handed away at 75 years previous. His firm, SNAC, introduced his demise on social media. (IMAGN)

Conte’s prior enterprise, BALCO, made nationwide headlines in 2003 when federal brokers raided the enterprise in addition to his Northern California residence as a part of an investigation into the steroids scandal that rocked a number of sports activities leagues, most notably Main League Baseball.

He later pleaded responsible in 2005 to conspiracy to distribute steroids and cash laundering, admitting to supplying performance-enhancing medicine to a number of high-profile athletes, together with Barry Bonds , baseball’s residence run king, and Olympic gold medalist Marion Jones.

MARLON BYRD NO QUALMS ABOUT WORKING WITH CONTE

Whereas Conte expressed regret for his function, he additionally mirrored on his controversial legacy in a Netflix documentary:

"When Marion Jones hit the end line and gained the gold medal, when Barry Bonds hit all these residence runs, you recognize, any of those nice accomplishments, these are issues that I’ll at all times be pleased with."

Victor Conte, founding father of BALCO speaks with the media on the Federal Courthouse after his sentencing within the BALCO steroid case on October 18, 2005, in San Francisco, California. The case, which introduced worldwide consideration to the steroid use by athletes, got here to a detailed right this moment with Victor Conte receiving 4 months jail time and 4 months of home arrest. (David Paul Morris/Getty Photos)

Conte ended up serving 4 months in a low-security federal jail in California as a part of his sentencing.

Conte’s SNAC developed and bought pure dietary supplements, however he wasn’t fully blackballed from sports activities. He was an advisor within the boxing world, with purchasers together with Terence "Bud" Crawford and Claressa Shields.

That doesn’t imply Conte didn’t nonetheless have detractors, as Crawford’s most up-to-date struggle in opposition to Canelo Alvarez caused skeptics who believed he may be dishonest with Conte on his staff.

"Please don’t stress the negativity of my previous an excessive amount of," Conte stated, through USA TODAY earlier than Crawford’s unanimous victory over Alvarez to make him a three-belt champion.

Founder and president of BALCO, Victor Conte speaks on the "Tribeca Talks: Injecting The American Dream" panel dialogue throughout the 2008 Tribeca Movie Competition on Might 3, 2008 in New York Metropolis. (Scott Wintrow/Getty Photos)

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Conte was identified with pancreatic most cancers in Might, however continued working with athletes from his hospital mattress in his remaining months.