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, as confirmed by SNAC System, a sports nutrition company he founded, which did not disclose the cause of death.
The federal government’s investigation into another company Conte founded, the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative (BALCO), resulted in the convictions of several athletes, including Jones, elite sprint cyclist Tammy Thomas, and former NFL defensive lineman Dana Stubblefield. This investigation also implicated coaches, distributors, a trainer, a chemist, and a lawyer.
Conte, who served four months in federal prison for steroid distribution, openly discussed his famous former clients. He claimed to have witnessed three-time Olympic medalist Jones self-administer human growth hormone, but always refrained from implicating Bonds.
His actions and the ensuing investigations led to the publication of the book “Game of Shadows,” which detailed the extent of steroid use in baseball. A significant outcome from the public outcry was the appointment of former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell by baseball Commissioner Bud Selig to investigate steroid use in the sport.
The Steroids Era
In his dealings, Conte sold steroids known as 'the cream' and 'the clear,' asserting that he advised dozens of elite athletes, including Giambi. The findings from the Mitchell report highlighted the seriousness of performance-enhancing substances, stating they undermine the integrity of sports and disadvantage honest athletes.
This issue was not a sudden development; Mitchell noted a shared responsibility among all individuals involved in baseball over the past two decades, pointing to a deeper systemic issue within the sport.
The investigation into BALCO began from humble roots, incited by a tax agent sifting through the company's trash. Conte ultimately pleaded guilty to two of the 42 charges filed against him in 2005. Six of those convicted related to lying to federal jurors and investigators, with Bonds' personal trainer also being implicated.
Despite being outed and convicted, Conte's bold persona didn't fade. After his prison sentence, he revived a nutritional supplements business called Scientific Nutrition for Advanced Conditioning, or SNAC System, and continued his controversial legacy within a building previously associated with BALCO.
Conte remained unapologetic about providing what he considered an equal playing ground, stating that the world of athletics had always been fraught with cheating.
He even met with officials from the World Anti-Doping Agency, using his past experiences to highlight flaws he perceived in anti-doping policies, reinforcing his view of being an anti-doping advocate.
Additionally, Conte was a gifted musician, having played with the funk band Tower of Power during the late 1970s. His diverse life experiences and complex legacy continue to stir debates regarding ethics in sports and the fight against doping.
Conte leaves behind a legacy that will likely continue to provoke strong opinions and discussions as the sports community grapples with the implications of doping.
