Victor Conte, Architect of BALCO Steroid Scandal, Dies at 75

Victor Conte, founder of the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative (BALCO), died at age 75, leaving behind a controversial legacy tied to one of the most significant performance-enhancing drug scandals in sports history. BALCO became infamous in the early 2000s for supplying undetectable steroids, known as "the clear" and "the cream," to elite athletes including baseball stars Barry Bonds, Jason Giambi, and Olympic champion Marion Jones. Federal investigations led to multiple convictions and revealed widespread doping across baseball, track, and boxing, severely damaging the reputations of numerous athletes and prompting major league baseball to commission the Mitchell Report on steroid use. Conte pleaded guilty to conspiracy and money laundering charges, serving a four-month prison sentence, but later worked as a boxing nutritionist and collaborated with anti-doping organizations such as WADA and VADA. Despite his polarizing past, Conte gained respect in combat sports circles, working with prominent boxers and advocating against performance-enhancing drugs. His death was announced by SNAC System, the sports nutrition company he founded, which confirmed his battle with pancreatic cancer.