In brief
Victor Conte, the controversial figure behind a scheme supplying undetectable steroids to high-profile athletes in the 2000s, died on November 6, 2023. Best known for providing performance-enhancing drugs to figures like Barry Bonds and Marion Jones, his actions led to significant scandals in professional sports. After serving time in prison, Conte became involved in nutritional supplements and remained outspoken about doping in athletics. His death marks the end of an era characterized by widespread performance-enhancing practices in sports.
Victor Conte, the architect of a scheme to provide undetectable performance-enhancing drugs to professional athletes including baseball stars Barry Bonds and Jason Giambi and Olympic track champion Marion Jones decades ago, has died. He was 75.
Conte died Monday, with SNAC System, a sports nutrition company he founded, announcing his death on social media without disclosing a cause.
The federal government’s investigation into another company founded by Conte, the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative (BALCO), resulted in several prominent athletes being convicted, including Jones and former NFL star Dana Stubblefield, as well as various coaches and trainers.
Conte openly discussed his infamous former clients, claiming that he had witnessed three-time Olympic medalist Jones using human growth hormone. However, he consistently refrained from directly implicating Bonds, the former San Francisco Giants slugger.
The extensive investigation culminated in the 2006 publication of the book Game of Shadows, which uncovered the depth of doping in baseball. Following this, baseball Commissioner Bud Selig initiated an investigation led by former Senator George Mitchell.
The Steroids Era
Conte admitted to selling steroids known as “the cream” and “the clear” to numerous elite athletes. The Mitchell report highlighted that the rampant use of such substances undermined the integrity of baseball and unfairly disadvantaged honest players.
Conte's legal troubles began when a tax agent uncovered evidence while rummaging through BALCO's trash, leading to his eventual guilty plea on charges related to steroid distribution in 2005.
Following his prison term, which he described as a retreat, Conte launched SNAC System again, operating in the same building that once housed BALCO, and maintaining his defiant stance on his actions. He claimed he merely leveled the playing field in a sport already rife with dishonest practices.
Despite the criticism from anti-doping advocates, Conte maintained a significant presence in the sports nutrition industry, advocating for athletes’ rights and contributing to discussions surrounding doping regulations.
Conte also briefly pursued a music career, performing with the funk band Tower of Power in the late 1970s. His passing has prompted both tributes and controversies reflecting his complex legacy in sports.
