Victor Conte, BALCO Founder Linked to MLB Steroid Scandal, Dies at 75

Victor Conte, founder of the Bay Area Laboratory Co-operative (BALCO), passed away at 75 after battling pancreatic cancer. Conte gained notoriety in the early 2000s when BALCO was implicated in a major doping scandal supplying steroids to prominent athletes like Barry Bonds and Marion Jones, leading to significant legal and reputational consequences for those involved. After serving four months in prison for conspiracy to distribute steroids and money laundering, Conte founded Scientific Nutrition for Advanced Conditioning (SNAC), focusing on legal supplements and athlete conditioning. Despite initial skepticism, he rebuilt his reputation by working with notable boxers and advocating for improved drug testing and clean competition in sports. The BALCO scandal had a lasting impact on anti-doping efforts worldwide, exposing widespread use of performance-enhancing drugs across multiple sports. Conte's legacy remains complex, blending his controversial past with later efforts toward promoting health and integrity in athletics.